Just one year ago, members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), held an off-campus “Compton Cookout,” where guests were beckoned to don gold teeth, wear baggy sports gear, and enjoy watermelon in honor of Black History Month. It was followed by a campus television broadcast of the editor of Koala, a campus publication, denouncing black students as “ungrateful niggers.” Not long after the broadcast, a sign marked “Compton Cookout Lynching,” was left at the station, and a noose was hung from a bookcase at the university’s main library.
Color may no longer be a determining factor in college admissions – treatment is said to be equal in the explicit, black and white legalese print – but once on campus minority students still face racial discrimination. The recent event at UCSD, a supposedly liberal institution, is just one of many examples. And it’s not just a problem in the United States. While people historically ‘escaped north’ to Canada to avoid wartime drafts or gain access to socialized healthcare, it is of no use for those seeking equal treatment on university campuses.
Carol Tator, an anti-racism researcher at York University, and co-editor of Racism in the Canadian University: Demanding Social Justice, Inclusion, and Equity, says that while Canadian universities have vision statements about racial equality, they do not recognize or respond to racial issues appropriately. “There’s only a broad recognition of individual hate crimes, but nothing above the level of the individual,” she said at the annual workshop for the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Tator went on to explain that inclusive policies aren’t enough to prevent structural racism.
Luckily, there are a few universities, such as The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that dedicate the time, energy, and resources to develop and maintain healthy relations amongst a diverse community. As more institutions recognize the need to address racial issues within their communities – or improve upon their current system – MIT may be seen as a model of success.
MIT’s Committee on Race and Diversity, formed in 1994 as a response to a racial incident that occurred the previous year, is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. While ad hoc groups rose up in reaction to the 1993 incident, MIT created the Committee with a proactive mission to help the university community realize the benefits of cultural and racial diversity.
MIT recognizes both the importance and shortcomings of creating policies, and the Committee therefore combats cultural and race-related problems in a holistic manner. It does make policies, and – even more importantly – actively demonstrates that the community stands behind the policy ideals. This is achieved through the organization of numerous events year-round (not merely during Black History Month), the inclusion of related subject matter in its academic curricula, promotion of open forums (both on and offline), and the funding and distribution of videos of minority students talking about their campus experience. In sum, racial issues are widely recognized and genuine efforts are made across the board to change the status quo not only within the student, but also amongst the greater MIT community. MIT’s Committee on Race and Diversity’s four main responsibilities may serve as a good point of reference for other universities that seek to appropriately address race issues, and/or engage their own community in a proactive effort to resolve present and potential incidents.
Responsibilities of MIT’s Committee on Race and Diversity:
- Stimulate and coordinate a systematic action agenda for improving race relations within the MIT community, including programs, events, and activities that foster appreciation of the many races and cultures at MIT (inside and outside the classroom), and/or that are designed to help eliminate bigotry or prejudice on campus.
- Develop, maintain, and promote a monthly calendar of campus activities and events directly involving or relating to issues of race relations, and serve as a clearinghouse of information on such activities.
- Develop and distribute a resource guide containing information on various services, programs, individuals, and organizations that can be of help in promoting positive race relations for the MIT campus.
- Administer a modest grants program to support projects and activities that promote multicultural understanding and positive race relations within the MIT community. Primary emphasis is on activities proposed by students or student groups. However, any member or group within the MIT community (students, faculty, and staff) is eligible to receive such grants.
These responsibilities clearly aim to address complex social and systemic race-related issues. When recognized and acted upon, such intentions make a difference. If universities across the nation (or even internationally) embrace a model similar to that of MIT, then together we can indeed begin to change the status quo.
What do you think?
Editors Note: While the program at MIT is used as an example in this article, colleges and universities across the nation are implementing programs to address race and diversity on campus. We would love to feature your school’s program in the future.
Sources:
http://diversity.mit.edu/crd
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/education/27sandiego.html
http://www.yorku.ca/
http://www.fedcan.ca/
Comments
First I would like to say
First I would like to say that I am incredibly shocked and saddened from the situation that happened at UCSD. I am grateful and appreciative of what MIT is trying to do and that they are trying to spread the word about it. It hurts me to know that it takes such a huge situation like the “Compton Cookout” or the racial incident at MIT for someone to take a stand and make a change. What most don’t seem to understand, or forget to acknowledge, is that racism happens every day to someone in a smaller scale. Racial discrimination is displayed to many through name calling, not letting them into a party, physical confrontation or something as small as giving a dirty look. Yes, I am happy that changes are being made to make people more aware but when feelings have already been hurt, especially dealing with race, it is hard to erase that memory. Every school across the nation should already have a system that helps to include all races, and it troubles me that they don’t.
when i was reading this
when i was reading this article i was shocked to see that the editor would say that about college students having a themed party. being a college student we enjoy the themed parties.. also i would like express that the feelings of other were not a factor by saying what the editor said about the african americans.. by saying what the editor said took racical discrimmination public and i think he should of kept his feelings to him self.
Theme parties and racism
These types of incidents are, unfortunately, more common than one might hope. One of the biggest issues that these behaviors raise for me is the way that they are often dismissed as “just a joke.” This type of defense has been used for too long in an attempt to take the sting out of racist behavior. It isn’t just a joke, or a theme, or a misunderstanding; it’s racism. While the work being done at schools like MIT is commendable, much more is necessary in order to have a more effective impact. Teaching children about racism in grade school, as well as providing a more accurate history of the racial violence that has occurred in the United States, may be useful in raising awareness and preventing racism before it begins rather than trying to fix it after it has become an issue.
Oh my goodness ....
Really, the family unit has gone down the tube if college kids think this is in any way shape or form OK - I would beat my child - yes, beat him/her - with their own arm if they even dared to think about such an event - it's disgraceful, distasteful and I hope parents out there can see that unless they change their views of other races, their kids will continue the perpetual destruction that such actions cause.
I think it is clear...
That these kids just made a joke out of black history month but in a way it really shows what a joke black history month actually is. If this really is a nation of equal opportunity we shouldn't even need a black history month. Black history should be a part of all history. This is just still a form of segregation and separating our history from each other. It should all be taught together and black history month should just be something that we shouldn't even need.
Racism in Colleges
This article was very surprising to me. I think that I am unfortunately very to the fact that racism to this extent still occurs. We may hope that one day racism will no longer be an issue, but unfortunately, some people can't conform to a versatile and equal country due refusing to eradicate their ignorance.The MIT program is a great program that is much needed. Education and prevention on racism is very necessary in the United States and programs like these are bringing us one step closer to changing the world. It is very unfortunate that their will always be a select few that rebel against the progression of society and positive change; however,it is better to make a difference by helping some than to have helped none.
Change
These types of articles will continue to appear until people start have to have this conversation on race. People really need to be educated and understanding when it comes to these delicate issues. People are too quick to make judgements and put people into categories without even knowing them. These articles will continue to surface every so often, and it's sad that we needs these types of stories to remind us of the many racial issues that infect our world.
Race is a major issue in
Race is a major issue in every society. Therefore I feel that they should be various of diverse clubs that illustrates the respect for other cultures. If we make students aware of different beliefs, than we can help the campus as a whole. This can help unite a campus and overall make it a safer environment to reside in.
A lunge in the right direction
This incident which is one of which was publicized and not nearly enough is what hides beneath the surface. While we have come a long way to create a greater understanding and environments for multicultural backgrounds this push has still been seen with a stewing defense from those unwilling to change. A progressive jump forward is on display with the steps that MIT has taken in response to racism and segregation. As we all know MIT is renowned for being a highly revered university and it is no wonder they have set the stage to be imitated and studied. Now, as a society, more than ever we need to take note of this and spread the greatness of integration and all the value held by it. It is solely through believing and teaching that word will be spread. No longer are we able to hide our feelings, for in this situation, while it may not be yourself, bodies of cultures are being devalued and this is a pain unmeasurable.
Misses the point
The party itself wasn't racist in its own right. A "compton cookout" disrespects a very specific class of people who have high crime rates, teen pregnancy rates, lower income and education - all of which are perfectly valid reasons to poke fun at, or not hold someone in respect. Outraged students should first ask themselves if equate being black with being "hood". If these students see themselves as talented, productive, and healthy people, they should take no offense to a Compton mockery.
Targeting a subgroup of a minority isn't racism by definition. Other themed parties like "white trash bashes" again, poke fun at a very specific racial subgroups and their peculiar ways. Should an upstanding white student cry wolf in this situation?
The actual incidents of note here are what happened AFTER the party. This article blacklists (hah...) the fraternity when the focus should be on the undeniably racists events that followed the party.
A Fair Change
After reading the story of what happened at UCSD, it is very obvious that something needs to change regarding racial issues. Although our country has come so far when it comes to racism, there are still many incidents that occur which are completely unnecessary. I think it is a great idea to have schools get more involved in race awareness and hold events that can inform students of the different races and cultures. Sometimes it seems that events are only aimed at the same specific racial group. However, that is not being very fair. I think that if there is going to be a change, it needs to be completely equal. Schools need to make information available for all races and cultural groups, not just the "most popular" ones. Although i do not think that racial issues will ever truly disappear, if fair changes are made, it is certainly a step in the right direction.