Murals still insulting as ever

The Black Student Union was founded after a group of white students made provisions to bring "Birth of a Nation," a film that depicts a racist view of Reconstruction following the Civil War, to IU.\n A group of Black students banded together, with the assistance of a faculty sponsor, to show the movie themselves, and discuss the negative stereotypes portrayed in the film. While we would not dare to allow IU to forget its racist past, as our history reflects, we will not be the victims of the University\'s insensitivity. In the same tradition of our founding members, the Black Student Union raised the issue of the mural to promote discussion on the nature of IU\'s commitment to diversity.\nWhy hasn\'t the University, which claims this is a valuable educational tool, bothered to make sure their faculty show a video tape, which explains their position on the mural? The videotape was made in response to concerns about the mural, and was supposed to be shown to all students who have class in Woodburn 100. By not showing the video or discussing the mural, IU has left the interpretation up to the students. Imagine a freshman taking an introductory-level course in any random subject. They enter a large lecture hall on the first day of college, only to be confronted by the Ku Klux Klan and the isolation of not discussing the controversial images on the wall, with only an ornamental plaque to describe the mural. The only history lesson I have learned from the University's actions is that they know students graduate, and by the administration's own admission they cannot be trusted to educate the students on the mural. \nPerhaps the most shocking realization of the University's negligence concerning the mural is that they have violated the Code of Students Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. According to the code, pg. 3 sect. 5.a.1. "A student has the right to be free from racial harassment in any building or at any location on any university property." The code goes on to define racial harassment in sect. 5.b. as "…any behavior, physical or verbal, that victimizes or stigmatizes an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, or national origin…" This conduct, according to the code, "…has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment." As a former resident assistant, I was obligated to remove and document anything that was offensive to any resident in my care. Unfortunately, the University's rules do not seem apply to students who have been offended by the mural. \n It is important to note that the Black Student Union does not advocate destroying the mural. We want IU to remember its history, but not at the expense of students. With the mural in an art museum, IU preserves its history and students do not have to face the Klan every day.\n If you are a student reading this, how many minorities do you see in class, or even on a stroll through campus? Have you ever had a minority professor? If you are an administrator, how many minorities work in your office? With that said, is it conceivable that minority faculty, students and staff stay away from IU because it does not espouse the values of a diverse university? With pictures of the Klan in a classroom, swastikas in the HPER, and a lack of diversity throughout all facets of the University, can anyone wonder why prospective minority students are concerned about attending IU?