BY SHANZEH AHMAD | PHOTO BY ALEX THOMAS
On Monday, Feb. 19, President Flanagan invited the Edgewood community to an all-campus diversity forum in light of the recent acts of vandalism on campus.
To an almost-filled Edgedome, Flanagan, along with the vice presidents of Edgewood, said that the perpetrator behind the vandalisms probably didn’t expect to see as many people come together to have this conversation. “They underestimated the resiliency of our students, faculty, and staff, and the support we offer each other,” said Flanagan.
Ana Jimenez, president of Student Senate at Edgewood, also spoke. “In the past few weeks, our campus has dealt with inexcusable behavior from a cowardly perpetrator who thought it was okay to not only vandalize one but two posters for the Edgewood College Dream Week, which is a week-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Jimenez.
Ana Jimenez-Diaz, president of Student Senate, shares powerful words regarding the racism experienced at Edgewood College.
She said acts like these are not only disrespectful but also have no place on this campus. “As your student body president, it saddens me to see these acts of hate at our values-based college,” said Jimenez.
Dean Pribbenow, the vice president for academic affairs, also emphasized Edgewood’s values. “It feels like given our institution’s focus on relationships, very few other things should be more important than striving to ensure that every member of this community feels like they are welcome here and belong here,” said Pribbenow.
Pribbenow said the acts of vandalism are just two of the known incidents. “How many other incidents happen every day to members of our community that we are not aware of?” said Pribbenow. “I refuse to allow acts like this to be a representation of our community.”
Other students, staff, and faculty also expressed their thoughts, feelings, and questions addressed to the administration. Sister Isabel Rafferty, a professor of digital art and multimedia, said that until society can accept that it is innately racist, how could people make a contribution to the change that is needed?
“I’ve listened to this referred to as an act of vandalism, but I haven’t heard it named for what it is . . . an act of racism,” said Rafferty. “How can we say that we are educating people if they are not aware of the change that needs to take place in the whole arena?”
One student stood up and said that when not just one poster was vandalized, but two, she couldn’t help but be disappointed. “In the world that we’re living in, it’s really hard for an African-American girl to even stand up here and look at all of you in your faces,” said the student. “I don’t need to walk around this campus scared that someone is going to say something disrespectful to me.”
Another student said that there needs to be an understanding and acknowledgment from the whole community of the nation’s history, how it was formed, and even how Edgewood rests on stolen Native American land. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself in an uncomfortable position to be able to learn,” said the student. “Otherwise, we’re going to continue on the same page, and we know that history repeats itself. We’re coming to the same cycle. If we really want to end this, we really need to push ourselves forward.”
Director of Diversity and Inclusion Tony Garcia gives heartfelt message letting students know they are wanted at Edgewood College.
This same student then asked the administration how the Edgewood community can hold them accountable for the promise of change. Flanagan responded by saying that accountability can take many forms and that there are many forms of accountability already on campus. He said that faculty and staff have forms to be able to hold the administration accountable.
Collin Haas, a student in the Cutting Edge program graduating in May, brought up other issues on campus, such as sexual assault and harassment and the discrimination and harassment of students with intellectual disabilities.
Haas said that everyone should be treated with respect. “Edgewood should be a place where we should all treat each and every one of us the way we want to be treated,” said Haas.
Similar to Haas, another student addressed all students, especially those who are marginalized or in minority groups, saying, “If you question whether or not you belong here, I want you to know that I want you here.”
Jimenez also addressed students of color. “Today’s forum sends a clear message. . . you belong here,” said Jimenez. “This is your campus, and we must continue to resist hate.”
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