40,000 vs 1

Students often disparage IU for not doing enough to encourage racial diversity and tolerance on campus.

The IDS has criticized the lack of recruiting in overwhelmingly black communities such as Gary. We’ve called out racism against Asian-American and international students.

IU on Strike’s platform demanded IU keep its promises to raise African-American enrollment to 8 percent.

But our school has made an effort to reach out to our minority populations through institutions such as the Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center and La Casa Latino Cultural Center.

We have clubs upon clubs celebrating the various cultures and traditions represented in the IU population, from the Chinese Calligraphy Club to the African Language and Culture Club.

IU has a race problem, like most schools in the United States, but we are working to make it better.

One man does not negate this good work.

The Traditionalist Youth Network is nowhere near as powerful as the IU student networks that are continuing to form and strengthen against this xenophobic, racist worldview.

TYN’s IU chapter only has one member willing to identify with the movement. I suspect it only has one member, period.

Anyone who was confused, angered or sickened by the protest on Monday, rest assured that you are not alone.

But do not let this comfort make you complacent.

Thomas Buhls’ brigade was met by almost 50 counterprotesters at Boxcar Books who made it clear the IU community does not stand in agreement with Buhls. But even if you were not there in that moment, you still have a chance to show IU students will not stand for racism.

Many of us protested TYN’s march on Monday. Let’s carry this protest into our daily lives.

Boycott the friends who make racist jokes. Picket the peers who refuse acceptance in favor of fear. March against those who would rather hate than understand. Conduct an unending sit-in on your own thoughts and behaviors.

Why be traditional when you can be revolutionary?

­— casefarr@indiana.edu
You can follow the columnist Casey Farrington on Twitter @casefarr