Meeting addresses Campus Press opinion pieces
Student leaders will be working with Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson to solve issues of racism on the CU campus following an open forum held Wednesday.
The forum was held to address two opinion pieces recently published in the Campus Press.
“Racism existed for me then as it did now,” said senior chemical engineering major David Chiu after reading an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech. “Once again the reputation of CU has been tarnished.”
Chiu was one of several student leaders who attended the forum at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Chem 140. The forum was held to address Campus Press assistant opinions editor Max Karson’s opinion piece titled “If it’s war the Asians want . . . ” and staff writer Lauren E. Geary’s piece titled “No hablo ingles,” both of which were published in the Campus Press last week.
The opinion pieces have caused strong reactions from the CU community.
Participants on the forum panel included University of Colorado Student Union Tri-Executives Hadley Brown and Charles Gilford, UCSU Director of Diversity Affairs John Ali Sharza and UCSU Health and Safety Director Victor Hsu.
Other student leaders at the forum included junior journalism and ethnic studies major Alexis Smith, senior international affairs major Chris Choe, and junior political science major Amie Ha.
Members of CU administration who were present along with Chancellor Peterson included Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ron Stump, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement Sallye McKee and Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication Paul Voakes.
Campus Press members in attendance included Editor in Chief Cassie Hewlings, Managing Editors Jason Bartz, Vanna Livaditis and Ashleigh Oldland, Opinion Editor Amanda Pehrson, and Campus Press faculty adviser Amy Herdy.
Hewlings, Bartz, Livaditis and Oldland published a letter in the Campus Press last week saying Karson’s article was intended to be satire, but many students at the forum said they did not agree it was satirical in nature.
Chiu referred to the opinions as “university supported essays of hate speech” in a “systematic culture of racism and bigotry.”
Other students said the opinions caused students to feel unsafe on campus.
“There’s a difference between freedom of speech and invading people’s safety,” Gilford said.
Students addressed the bigger issue of racism stemming from incidents such as the publication of racist articles.
“Max Karson’s article was not a one-time thing,” Smith said. “[The articles] are unfortunate side effects of the campus climate.”
Several students said they had encountered racism in their everyday lives before the Campus Press articles were published.
“It’s no longer surprising to me that people are outwardly racist,” Ha said.
Members of the Campus Press who spoke apologized for the publication of the opinions and expressed regret for the recent events.
“I didn’t want to hurt anyone,” Hewlings said. “It was irresponsible of me.”
Hewlings said she wanted to listen to the students present to understand how they were feeling.
“My firm belief is not to work separately towards the same goal . . . I don’t want to talk at you, I want to talk with you,” Hewlings said.
Students called for changes to be made and for the issue of racism to be clearly addressed.
“I believe that issuing apologies . . . it’s not enough,” Gilford said.
Gilford asked that the Campus Press articles be evaluated according to Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin in programs receiving federal assistance.
Gilford also asked that CU fulfill several demands made by students in early 2005 including a broadened view of diversity, extra funding for diversity programs, a mandatory diversity class at CU and diversity training for faculty, who would have to be re-certified periodically.
Chui went on to ask that Herdy and Hewlings resign and that an independent investigation be launched into the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Ha also demanded that the operations of the Campus Press be suspended.
The chancellor asked that the university administration’s silence on the matter during the forum not be seen “as a lack of concern.”
“I issued a statement that did apologize to those that were hurt and wounded,” Peterson said. “I want to allow us to talk about solutions and dialogue.”
Voakes said the journalism faculty met for two hours Wednesday afternoon and read from a statement prepared by journalism faculty during the meeting.
The statement said the faculty members were “horrified” when they saw Karson’s opinion piece. The statement also accepted responsibility for the publishing of the pieces because of a lack of structure within the Campus Press.
Voakes went on to read that the faculty is “totally committed to a broad-based plan to improve the professionalism, the responsibility and sensitivity that must accompany a free press.”
Many students said they were pleased with the forum.
“I think in terms of having some dialogue it went well,” Sharza said.
Other students said the forum brought the community together in a show of support.
“I appreciate the community support and it goes to show that this issue affects the entire greater community and that this issue will not go away,” Ha said following the forum.
Some students, however, said the impact of the discussion will depend on steps taken in the future.
“The measure of success with the forum will be what’s put forth with this administration,” Gilford said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sam Dieter at Samuel.Dieter@colorado.edu.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Alison Mesinger at Alison.Mesinger@colorado.edu.
