Students Boycott Hate Oct. 26

In response to recent acts of racism on campus, students have organized a Boycotting ALL Hate Day 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. Activities will take place throughout the day in Farinon College Center.

• The McDonogh Report celebrates the contributions of African Americans to the Lafayette community.

The International Students Association (ISA), W.O.R.D.S. (Writing Organization Reaching Dynamic Students), Association of Black Collegians (ABC), Students for Social Justice (SSJ), Questioning Established Sexual Taboos (QuEST), and many other diversity groups on campus are coming together to promote a day of diversity and awareness.

Student organizers planned the boycott in response to two acts of racism that occurred on campus in late September. The first act was a racial slur on a bulletin board in Ramer Hall. The second incident occurred on Cattell Street, when a student reported that a young male drove by him and yelled a racial slur out the window. Both acts were condemned by faculty and administrators and sparked outrage among many diversity groups on campus, leading to the creation of Boycotting ALL Hate Day.

“The goal is to unite everyone on campus against hate, racism, and homophobia,” says ISA board member Chiquita Anna Palha De Sousa ’08 (Harare, Zimbabwe), a double major in art and biology. “We are trying to raise awareness that things like this still happen, even on our campus.”

The schedule of events includes:

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – “Throwing Away Stereotypes” in Farinon College Center Atrium – Students are invited to come write down a stereotype and symbolically throw it away.
• 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. – QuEST “Coming Out of the Closet” in Farinon Atrium – Drop by the QuEST table for a free t-shirt to show support for the “Gay? Fine By Me” campaign.
• 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. – Face Painting in Farinon Atrium– Those who want to say no to hate in a bigger, bolder way can paint any slogan or logo on their face for the day.
• 12:15-1 p.m. – “The N-word and the Modern Use of It” brown bag in Marlo Room, Farinon – Students are invited to speak out about their opinions or just listen to show their support. Lunch will be provided.
• 12:20 p.m. – Exhibit and talk for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Marlo Room, Farinon – Heidi Markow of the Beginning Over Foundation (affiliated with the national organization Silent Witness) will speak at this brown bag sponsored by the Women’s Studies program. Statues produced by students at area schools to commemorate local women killed in domestic violence will be on display.
• 3 & 5 p.m. – Tim Silvestri Talks in Marlo Room, Farinon – At 3 p.m., Silvestri, assistant director of counseling services, will discuss activism and the right way to go about it. At 5 p.m., he will be giving an inter-group bias discussion.
• 4-5 p.m. – Open Forum in Marlo Room, Farinon – Students may come and ask questions that they have always wanted to ask but have felt are too ‘politically incorrect’ or ‘taboo.’ Students are also invited to drop questions in the question box.
• 5-6:30 p.m. – Higher Learning in Limburg Theater, Farinon –Refreshments will be served.
• 6:45-7:30 p.m. – Higher Learning Discussion in Marlo Room, Farinon
• 7-8 p.m. – Drumming Circle in Farinon Atrium- An opportunity for students to drum freestyle.
• 8 p.m. – Open Mic in Farinon Snack Bar – Students with something to share about hate crimes are invited to email Alberto at lunaa@lafayette.edu to sign up. Walk-ins will be permitted if time permits.
• All Day – W.O.R.D.S. Hate Wall in Farinon Atrium – Come read students’ personal stories, add your own, or help cross out hate by crossing it out on the wall.