By MICHELLE JESTER
DavidsonNews.net
Students at Davidson College are planning a “Rally for Change” at the college union Thursday at 7 p.m. to promote respect for diversity in the wake of a racial incident that has been widely debated on campus.
If you’re at the college Thursday, you may see people wearing T-shirts with the question “Do I make you uncomfortable?” It’s a phrase organizers hope will spread awareness about the fears of diversity and resulting discrimination.
Although diversity has been a major issue as Davidson has grown in recent years, it has come to the forefront over the past academic year because of several perceived racial events. Rally organizers say the issue encompasses not just race and ethnicity but an entire range of differences, including gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and even physical size.
The Rally for Change aims to provide an open forum for discussion on the underlying fears of difference with an emphasis on all aspects on diversity, campus leaders said this week.
“Diversity is a term that has been beaten to the ground and is being misused,” said Chris Burton, Davidson College student body president. “It is not a black versus white or male versus female deal. It is a microcosm of a greater situation.”
The event ultimately hopes to promote a more respectful and inclusive campus community that fosters open discussion among community members, he said.
FEBRUARY INCIDENT
Although organizers are hoping to promote a broad discussion, the rally was inspired specifically by an incident that occurred on Friday, Feb. 15. That night, David Dennis, a Davidson College senior, and 20 of his African-American, non-Davidson friends were heckled with racist comments, accused of misbehavior and alienated by other students while trying to attend a fraternity party.
Students complained that Mr. Dennis’s friends were making them “uncomfortable.” After being asked to leave the party, Mr. Dennis’s friends all left Davidson’s campus feeling mistreated and misunderstood.
The incident has sparked heated and passionate conversations across the 1,700-student campus. That led to planning for Thursday’s rally.
NOT JUST TOLERANCE
Organizers chose the name “Rally for Change” because it seeks not only to champion diversity in all forms, but also to advocate a change in people’s attitudes toward respecting — not just tolerating — diversity.
“Rally for Change is for everyone on campus and in the community because everyone is afraid of something or uncomfortable about something. We shouldn’t be ashamed of that,” Mr. Burton said. “It’s about everyone coming together and discussing why we have these fears.”
The event starts at 7 p.m. in the Union Ampitheatre. A coalition of student leaders, faculty, staff and community members will assemble to discuss the fears behind diversity and listen to noted speakers, such as Davidson College President Tom Ross, Chris Burton, Davidson Chaplain Rob Spach, David Dennis and Mike Parsons, the former President of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and representative of Patterson Court, a fraternity umbrella organization.
RELATED LINKS
Feb. 27, 2008, The Davidsonian student newspaper, “Recent Incident Not Just Court Problem” – a commentary on the Feb. 15th incident by student Paul Stroup
Feb. 27, 2008, The Davidsonian student newspaper, “Does my presence make you feel uncomfortable?” – commentary by student David Dennis, who was involved in the Feb. 15 incident.
