There have been several Viewpoints addressing last Saturday's luncheon with the Board of Trustees in Dewick-MacPhie dining hall. The letters to the editor have come from a variety of sources and have had varying opinions on the issues related to student life. We would like to clarify our intent and purpose as well as our understanding of the events that took place at the luncheon with the Board of Trustees.
For the students not in attendance, the presentations by members of the TCU Senate and the student organizations were not disrespectful or aggressive. On the contrary, we, the students were unified and presented a thought-out and organized presentation about the lack of tolerance and diversity on this campus. As a collective group, we spoke on topics such as the 1997 task force on race and the need for resources, and we raised questions about the need for resources for students. We have challenged the administration to take responsibility for and take action against those acts that contribute to or create a hostile environment for students on campus.
Regarding the increased acts of intolerance and bigotry, we have asked the administration what mechanisms it has or will put into place to promote a climate where acts of intolerance are regarded as the antithesis to the tenets of the University. We have also asked the administration to work with us to improve student-to-student relationships, as well as the relationships between and among students, faculty, and administration.
The allegations that students are ungrateful for what has already been accomplished with regards to diversity or that we are constructing an aggressive environment are entirely baseless. By no means did we create or attempt to create an antagonistic atmosphere during the meeting. We understand that indeed there was and is tension; however, we simply attempted to use the question-and-answer forum during the luncheon to address some of the concerns of members of the student constituency.
Never have we stated nor have we suggested that we are ungrateful for the progress Tufts has made with regards to diversity. In fact, we applaud these efforts. We have simply articulated that with increased acts of intolerance and the need for support and resources for an ever-growing student population, we must ask again: what is the University's comprehensive commitment to diversity?
Despite the criticism and controversy, we feel that the luncheon was a success. The kind of forum that allows for disagreement and dialogue is part of the road to creating a more tolerant and diverse Tufts University. We know that nothing happens overnight. However, for many of us it has been four years, and as we review the history of the University, many of these questions resurface again and again.
Tufts has made progress. In an effort to understand and work within our changing world, we must all appreciate and value diversity and provide the necessary resources to allow all students to flourish. If we vow to continuously follow through with proposals and recommendations already established and encourage additional commitment on the part of the Board of Trustees and members of the administration, the long term future of Tufts will be brighter.
The events of Saturday were positive in many ways. For one, a positive feeling of solidarity has emerged among a number of students. The issues are not simply about black and white students. What we witnessed on Saturday afternoon was a coalition of students attempting to hold hands, extend ourselves, and reach across the divisions of administration, faculty, trustees, and students. We do think that race continues to be a problem in the US and furthermore in this institution.
However, we think that sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia are issues that are of equal concern. These issues are not only pertinent to students of African descent, as the articles in the Daily may suggest, but also to over one third of the Tufts community including Asian students, students of European descent, Middle Easterners, Latino students, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) students and women. In other words, we believe that diversity is of value and that acts of intolerance are unacceptable to most members of the Tufts community. These issues are relevant, because when students' educations are impacted, the University has not fulfilled its commitment to creating an environment conducive to learning.
Writing off the events on Saturday as sheer "activism" and blaming it on "rowdy kids" is not only missing the point but purposely erasing most of the presentation and the important questions raised. We encourage everyone to reread (or perhaps for some of you it will be the first time) the Tufts Vision Statement. The opening lines state: "As we shape our future, quality will be the pole star that guides us." The students that attended the open forum lunch on Saturday were guided by a pole star of quality. The unity was not rooted in disdain but rather in the action of not one or two people but a group of individuals united to increase the quality of the experiences for members of the student body. We are committed to Tufts, and therefore it is our responsibility to take a stand. We ask that, as a community, we try and stand together.
Finally, on Saturday a group of dedicated students formed to, as cited in the Vision Statement, "obtain, evaluate, and use information", "be receptive to new ideas" and "sensitive to ethical issues and able to confront them." We encourage faculty and members of the administration to take our extended hand in our efforts to enhance the quality of the institution and students' experiences, and, of course, to create a vision that is promising and lives up to the doctrine and creed of the University.
Hassa Blake is a sophomore majoring in economics. Ify Mora is a sophomore double majoring in Spanish and quantitative economics. Ivan Padilla is a senior majoring mechanical engineering. David Wu is a sophomore majoring in American Studies. All four students attended the Feb. 9, 2002 trustee luncheon.
