To The Pleiad editors:

On Oct. 28, 2004, the first-year class met to discuss the recent acts of harassment and intolerance on campus. Below is a sample of their comments.

“My Albion College values diversity, and if you do not, leave!”

“Liberal Arts at Work challenges us to educate ourselves and to learn from difference.”

“I am gay, and you write ‘I hate fags’ on my whiteboard. I write back, ‘Fags love you.’ I know who the better person is.”

An African-American student explained, “Today when I heard someone wrote ‘I hate fags’ on a lesbian’s door, I laughed. When I heard someone wrote ‘Nigger’ on a car, I stopped laughing. Now I understand. We must recognize that all hate affects all of us.

“As a class, we need to take a stand, and we need to start today.”

The Class of 2008 reclaimed their legacy last week, and I had the privilege of hearing them. These students affirmed that they stand for the core values that Albion College dearly cherishes. They then called upon each other to take action to protect these values.

I now ask all students to take a stand against all forms of discriminatory and sexual harassment. The administration is doing its part, but we alone cannot change the campus culture. You must do your part. For example, read the College Discriminatory Harassment policy (see www.albion.edu/handbook ) and learn to distinguish the difference between freedom of speech and discrimination. Speak out against humor that is at the expense of others wherever the “jokes” are told—hallway, dining room, locker room and chat room. Become an ally, e.g., support a female student who is mustering the courage to report an alleged sexual assault. Get a button at the KC front desk and wear it.

The time is now. Take a stand.

Sally J. Walker,
Vice president of student affairs and dean of students