THE 2008 Day of Dialogue on Race occurred two weeks ago with little fanfare, its call for increased awareness of issues of racial prejudice and discrimination on Grounds drowned out by the rallying cries of fraternity brothers welcoming new members into their midst. Its schedule overlapping with that of fraternities' Bid Day, the Day of Dialogue attracted the expected audience of the open-minded and concerned individuals already interested in discussing ways in which racial and ethnic prejudice at the University could be reduced. Programs such as the Day of Dialogue on Race continue to have difficulty attracting students who seem oblivious to the fact that discrimination even exists on Grounds -- or those who simply don't care that it does. In order to ensure the attendance of these students, the University's administration must make visible the urgency of this endeavor. Instead of merely encouraging students to become more educated about issues of diversity and multiculturalism, they must require that students engage these issues throughout their four years here. Required attendance at events like the Day of Dialogue seems the only way to ensure that every student takes seriously issues of prejudice and discrimination on Grounds. While this may initially produce a great deal of grumbling from students who would rather be elsewhere, the outcome may eventually be a truly substantial, University-wide change in the social dynamics of the University.
As the Day of Dialogue began, one of the first questions asked by a participant was why the event had been scheduled to occur on the same day that fraternity brothers would be busy extending invitations to prospective members. Associate Dean of Students Leonard Perry responded by pointing out that no one ever directs that same question to non-minority organizations. His point was that instead of asking a program like Days of Dialogue to reschedule its events to accommodate the Greek community, perhaps the better approach would be to recognize the necessity for an event like Days of Dialogue to occur. Perhaps Bid Day could -- for once -- take a backseat to an event about making the University a more inviting community for all students and organizations.
In writing this, I do not mean to imply that all fraternity members are bigots or that non-Greek students at the University are inherently good, accepting individuals. Other non-Greek members of the University community could have also undoubtedly benefited from spending a day discussing common stereotypes, the existence of institutional racism and ways in which discrimination on Grounds could be addressed. Yet they didn't. And while the Days of Dialogue organizers did an excellent job planning the event and inviting students to attend, the result yielded a group of students who were already in agreement that the social climate at the University must become more open.
The only way to ensure the attendance of students who are unaware of the existence of racial, class, gender and other forms of discrimination is for University officials and figureheads to devote themselves to this cause.
The administration at least tries to acclimate first years to a college environment in which they would be allowed to grapple with issues of multiculturalism, discrimination and social prejudice by forcing them to attend lectures and skits on diversity. The changes in residence hall assignments that will take place in the coming years, which do not allow incoming students to choose where they live, is also a positive step. Yet University officials and representatives are not nearly as vocal and transparent about ongoing discrimination at the University as they should be. After first year, student participation in discussions about discrimination becomes voluntary, and only those who already recognize the necessity for change choose to continue the dialogue.
If the University's Greek organizations, the Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee and other institutions want to create a welcoming atmosphere in which all students feel comfortable, their members cannot afford to miss out on opportunities to confront the very issues they are often accused of ignoring. To express support for greater acceptance of all individuals and minority communities is one thing, but to work towards achieving that goal is quite another. Dialogue is a great place to begin.
Days of Dialogue has reached a new milestone this year: Instead of a one-day event focusing only on discussing race and ethnicity, the program has become a three-day series in which class, gender and sexuality are also addressed. Organizers have both recognized and responded to the diversity of social issues faced by students on Grounds. Now it is the University's turn to attend to those issues.
The purpose of Days of Dialogue is to empower agents of change to act at the University with the purpose of combating racism, classism, sexism and other exclusionary '
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