The Tufts campus is awash in political and social activism. The 200-meter stretch of concrete between the academic quad and the library illustrates this fact. It's home to a rainbow display of flyers and posters plastered to the stairway walls, advertising the daily functions that revolve around a range of social, political and cultural issues.
But does this apparent impassioned activism translate into a tolerant and accepting community?
Several "bias" events recently reported on campus have brought the political and social tolerance of the Tufts campus into question.
Since the beginning of the semester, two sexuality-related acts of intolerance - one verbal, and one physical and verbal - have been reported on the Tufts campus.
But "considering the substantial diversity on campus, I'd say we are doing pretty well," sophomore Jesse Gossett said.
Indeed, most students agree that in public and in class discussions, students and professors alike are very careful to be aware of the potential sensitivities of different members of the student body.
"Generally, students are politically correct," senior Arlyn Escalante said. "Even if they joke around sometimes, it's not their actual feelings."
A propensity to "joke around," however, is exactly what has others concerned.
"Oftentimes, Tufts students have a mentality that because they are intelligent and tolerant in general, they do not have to engage seriously in the question of bias," said Susie Hayward, the Resident Director of Bush Hall, where several of the reported bias incidents have occurred.
According to Hayward, the concern is that students consider themselves to be so tolerant and unprejudiced that they feel comfortable making offensive jokes.
"What I don't think students fully realize is that you can't intellectualize your way out of bias," Hayward said.
"It exists all around us in latent dynamic, systemic discrimination, stereotypes, etc. that are said with no malicious intent," Hayward added.
"If they are left unaddressed, they can set the stage for an environment in which, when there is a stressor of some sort, such as a fight, or alcohol, a more serious bias incident can occur," she finished.
Many students commented on the fact that the majority of the casual joking around goes on among friends, deliberately not in the presence of the target of the joke.
"I doubt anyone would say a bigoted word to someone's face," freshman Jason Hill said. "It's really an act of cowardice to say things like that behind someone's back."
The concern remains, however, that if individuals are too worried about being sensitive or politically correct, they risk censoring themselves and stifling important dialogue.
The Tufts administration has attempted to take advantage of the opportunity provided by these unfortunate incidents by bringing the community together to engage in positive and constructive dialogue.
A week after the second of two bias incidents occurred this year in Bush Hall, a mandatory meeting was convened to discuss the incidents and their ramifications.
The leadership of Residential Life encouraged the students to be more aware of their words and their actions and to consider their consequences.
"Those little comments and jokes hurt," Hayward said. "They add up and wear on people to whom they are directed - gays, women, etc."
"Words are loaded, and a harmless intent of the speaker doesn't mean that whomever overhears isn't hurt," Hayward added.
