Acorn

To cultivate discussion about the diversity issues on campus, Drew University held a diversity panel last Sunday to discuss hot topics such as discrimination and community standards.

Moderated by Associate Professor of English Sandra Jamieson, the panel discussed Drew's Human Rights Policy and diversity, particularly concerning the April Fools' Day issue of The Acorn.

The diversity panel included representatives from The Acorn, several House Assistants from theme houses and offended students. Each panelist was given 5 minutes to speak.

Associate Dean of Student Life Gerry Muir stressed the need for the policy to be more open and accessible to all students.

Of the human rights violations, there is "no clear consensus of what can be considered severe and pervasive," Muir said. As a solution, Muir suggested skits during orientation and distribution of the policy, which will educate students about their rights and responsibilities.

The first panelists were senior Glendora Meikle, the former editor in chief of The Acorn, and sophomore Meghan Van Dyk, The Acorn's new editor in chief. "It was an error in judgment to let the letter be printed [in The Acron]," Meikle said. According to Meikle, poor communication due to the change in senior staff contributed to the error. As The Acorn transitioned from its old senior staff to its new, five people -- as opposed to the normal three -- were on senior staff, Meikle said. "It slipped through our fingers," she said. "It was an oversight and we are truly sorry."

Van Dyk said that when The Acorn received immediate feedback on the editorial, the staff proposed sensitivity training for the staff and creating guidelines for The Acron. "It is important to us that it does not happen again," Van Dyk said. Additionally, The Acorn is considering printing a weekly diversity column, in which students can share experiences and thoughts related to diversity.

The next panelist, Spirituality House HA senior Gillian Malloy, said that students must work together in order to create a stronger campus community. "How can we address a broader campus if we do not support each other?"

Womyn's Concerns House HA senior Jessie Leto said that the house has often experienced a lack of respect, such as shouting comments and blaring offensive music during October's Take Back the Night march.

Sophomore Jen Dugan of the Alliance voiced her disagreement with those who attest that "not much racism or homophobia [exists at Drew]."

Gay students on campus often hear words such as "fag" and "dyke" as they walk past parties. She suggested that students work together to increase knowledge of diversity. "If activist groups are not united, no one will feel the need to fight," Dugan said.

Senior Tamra Jenkins, "an offended student," noted an incident where a freshman African-American girl alleged that three white males told her to "Get the f--- off my campus." According to Jenkins, The Acron catalyzed such racist incidents.

There is a severe lack of accountability not just with The Acorn, but with the administration as well, she said.

According to senior Crystal Taylor, the most important issue at hand is to make sure that students are comfortable.

"Sorry doesn't handle what happened," she said in reference to The Acron article. Taylor added that hour-long diversity meetings and panels will not accomplish anything, and Drew must tackle the issue.

In response, Dean of Student Affairs Edye Lawler said that the administration devoted much time and effort to diversity -- not just during town meetings.

Junior Jason Alleyne, another "offended student," said that he was disappointed with the meeting. The Acorn itself is not the problem, Alleyne said, but rather the climate which allows such material to be printed. "[The administration] created the climate, and [it] need[s] to take responsibility," Alleyne said.

After the panelists spoke, a heated question-and-answer session began. Sophomore Henry Coates said that he took offense to posters displaying the words "Damned Racists Everywhere," as an acronym of Drew. The main problem is ignorance, Coates said, and communication is important. "We are not all 'damned racists everywhere,'" he said.

Other controversial issues addressed at the meeting included The Acorn's letter of apology and the announcement that the paper will no longer print letters to the editor referring to The Acron.

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