Hearing problems

IU has a hearing problem. It's having trouble hearing the concerns and the hurt minority students have faced on campus. \nIn my time here the controversies have included the Benton Mural, a racist caricature of a black man in the IDS, professor Eric Rasmusen and his Web log and now the anti-affirmative action bake sale. What has been IU's response to these degrading and dehumanizing events that have marginalized students? \nThey have been mere "teachable moments" and "learning opportunities." IU has allowed these groups and people that have hurt minorities to remain cloaked behind their First Amendment right. However, as in life, there are limits to this amendment. How long will IU allow these groups and people to trample on the mental psyche of these students. Can you hear me? Can you hear me now? \nBeyond those initial debates and discussions, nothing of real substance has come about. But there have been a few programs. During the first few days of the semester there is discussion in Woodburn Hall, Room 100, where the Benton Mural is located. But according to graduate student Keon Gilbert who helped facilitate some of the discussions, this is not the most effective diversity workshop that the University can provide for students. Neither are the Freshmen Orientation Sessions on diversity, which he led about 8 or 9 times this past summer, also. \nAnd let us not forget the Conversions on Race Program, which in the 2002-2003 academic school year had a projected 242 participates -- there are 38,903 people on this campus according to a press release by IU's Office of Communications and Marketing released March 4. \nGreat job.\nIf IU likes campus discussions about diversity so much, why has there not been a strategy developed for those debates to occur throughout the year? Debates that all students must be apart of, not exclusively on Martin Luther King, Jr. day, during CultureFest or whenever a group speaks out about being hurt? \nCan you hear me? Can you hear me now?\nAccording to the 1998 20/20 Report: A Vision for Achieving Equity and Excellence at IU Bloomington, which is prepared by the Office for Student Development and Diversity, concern was raised not only about the percentage of students of color, but also about a generally indifferent, even "chilly" climate, and a lack of progress toward warming it.\nIn an interview with the South Bend Tribune on Nov. 7, Vice President of Student Development and Diversity Charlie Nelms stated about diversity that "a warming trend is on the way. Without a doubt, there is a distinct difference in climate at all of our campuses." Two days before his statements the Committee for Freedom held an anti-affirmative action bake sale on campus which hurt and angered many students. A warming trend? More like an arctic blast. On Nov. 4, the Bloomington Faculty Council approved a Statement of Diversity. Nonetheless, statements can do little without real progress. Can you hear me? Can you hear me now? \nThe time for debates, discussions, deliberations or whatever else you want to call them is over, it is time the IU community to act as a whole. We, as minority students, have done our part, we have taken part in those debates and we have felt the brunt of the "chilly climate." These problems should not be put wholly on the Office of Student Development and Diversity, but the whole IU community.\nCan you hear me? Can you hear me now?