Pointing the finger

Diversity is an issue that is alive and well on the IU campus and really, diversity exists on every college campus. So when a situation arises that is intricately connected to diversity, who is responsible for addressing these issues at IU? \nIs it the primary and sole position of Charlie Nelms, vice chancellor for academic support and diversity, to rectify problems and respond to diversity? \nLikewise, is it the responsibility of those who belong to specific underrepresented or minority populations to address diversity?\nIs it the responsibility of the African American Cultural Center, La Casa, Asian Culture Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Commission for Multicultural Understanding and International Center/Office of International Services to be the immediate players in responding to these particular constituencies? What responsibility do other offices and departments at IU have in addressing diversity issues and diverse populations? What role do faculty, staff and administrators have in creating a nonhostile campus climate?\nLooking at our student population of about 36,000 students, is it the responsibility of students of color to address diversity issues at IU? Or is it the sole responsibility of student leaders of color to be advocates for issues that impact their respective communities? Do white students have any responsibility in addressing diversity during their academic and educational experience at IU? And what about the campus-wide student organizations, such as the student leaders in Indiana University Student Association, Union Board, Graduate Student Organization or Residence Hall Association?\nYou might be wondering what has triggered such questions. In the past two weeks, much controversy about the David Horowitz ad has surfaced. If you haven't noticed, several students have responded to the Horowitz anti-reparations advertisement that appeared in the IDS on April 13. Many students expressed discontent, disgust, anger, disappointment, frustration, and on the other spectrum, disbelief, some in agreement, and others, apathy. These emotions reflect the campus climate at IU when a matter of diversity arises. In response, several IU undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff have united to relay their outrage of the IDS' choice to run Horowitz' advertisement. This outrage is a result of the overlying message that diversity is an understatement and undervalued reality for many students of color on the IU campus.\nThe editor in chief and the IDS faculty adviser attended a student forum in Teter Quad last Tuesday and listened to the concerns and frustrations and experienced firsthand the intense emotions that filled the Teter formal lounge. A theme that was reiterated throughout the discussion was disappointment with the IDS to run such an offensive, demeaning and inaccurate advertisement about slavery and reparations. Regardless of the racial composition of the IDS staff, sensitivity to these issues should have no color. The answer is not recruiting more writers who are from various racial groups. The answer is to hire staff who are conscientious and sensitive to the needs of all its IU students. Would the IDS run an advertisement from a Nazi who claims that the Jewish Holocaust never existed? Or would the IDS choose to accept and print an advertisement promoting membership in the Ku Klux Klan? Highly unlikely. \nYou might be wondering why an Asian American graduate student is submitting this opinion piece. This issue serves as one more example of the racial climate at IU and how it continues to be a hostile environment. The Horowitz advertisement, like other forms of oppression, not only affects African-American students, but affects us all. Diversity is a matter that affects us all, directly and indirectly. What are you going to do about it?