It’s obvious to returning students that racism has been a recurring problem on campus, from outside, slur-filled e-mails sent to the Black Student Alliance, to derogatory fliers placed in The Fire This Time, an on-campus newsmagazine for students of color and complaints of racial epithets hurled at many students. And these incidents only cover the past year at Georgetown. Between 1998 and 2000, a menorah placed in Red Square was desecrated three separate times and Nazi symbols were scrawled on the walls of Copley Hall.
While many might prefer to set aside the problem as being too complicated, Pluralism in Action an organization affirms the diversity of Georgetown’s student body has taken it on powerfully. Pluralism in Action is especially active in welcoming new students and has become a mandatory event at New Student Orientation every fall since 2001.
Orientation Advisors, Resident Assistants and Peer Leaders met last Monday to review the program set for New Student Orientation. Activities for new students include a performance, ice breakers and group dialogues. According to the ground rules for the dialogues, “Georgetown’s Jesuit tradition asserts that the search for truth depends on the ability to have open, honest discussion among those with differing views.”
But Pluralism in Action is not merely intended to be a response to incidents of racism or intolerance on campus. Instead, its goals are more preventative and educational. According to the mission statement on the Center for Minority Educational Affairs website, Pluralism in Action is “designed to help incoming students explore issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and national origin that arise when attending a diverse institution. Its goal is not only to help students to feel comfortable . . . but also to learn to celebrate those differences.”
And Pluralism in Action can set the tone in how the University would deal with potentially disruptive situations by fostering dialogue between students.
The program is an example of the University community itself testing on-going problems. The University has shown its commitment to solving the problems that have plagued campus relations. For one, Pluralism in Action is now funded directly by the University, rather than through a private grant, fulfilling a promise to begin funding the program several years after its inception.
In addition to the continuation of the Pluralism in Action program, last spring, University President John J. DeGioia formed a committee of high-level administrators to address concerns about racial insensitivity among faculty and students.
The University should continue to take steps to prevent intolerance on campus. Programs like Pluralism in Action should be encouraged and supported by the Georgetown community all year and not just during the first few weeks.
