On Monday, Oberlin College cancelled all classes in reaction to several incidents of hateful vandalism that occurred on campus throughout the month of February.
Administrators responded with this "Day of Solidarity" after a person in Ku Klux Klan-like robes was allegedly seen in the vicinity of the campus's Afrikan Heritage House. While reports have come forth insisting that this sighting may have been mistaken, suggesting that the figure was a student wrapped in a blanket, it was the seventh such incident in the past month at Oberlin.
In an e-mail to the student body, liaison to the Oberlin Student Senate Eliza Diop wrote, "At this time, advocacy, support and solidarity are necessary emotionally, physically and spiritually."
The attacks targeted the black, Jewish and LGBT communities alike. I'm still trying to make sense of the magnitude of bigotry that took place at Oberlin, considered by many to be one of the most ardently liberal academic institutions in the country. My hope is that from this hatred, the college can find a productive way to confront the racism, anti-Semitism and queerphobia that motivated these acts.
Though I understand the impulse behind Oberlin's Day of Solidarity, to some degree I question the college's choice to cancel classes as a suitable and peaceful protest. By ceasing the academic mission of the institution, Oberlin continued to grant its provocateurs - a small number of cowardly people - the results they so maliciously desired: disruption. They didn't deserve that kind of recognition.
In observing the measures Oberlin students, faculty and administrators took to manage these difficult conversations, I began thinking about how our own community at DePauw would approach a similar occurrence. DePauw, after all, bears much in resemblance to the Ohio liberal arts college. If it can happen at a peer institution, it can certainly happen here.
What would we do to prevent the chain of regrettable events - the domino effect of hatred - that befell Oberlin?
DePauw is no stranger to hate-related incidents and vandalism. In the past, such actions have been dealt with rather quickly. But these events occurred in isolation. In recent memory, the perpetrators were identified, and the conflict was addressed head-on.
But what would we do if biased incidents spiraled out of control - in such rapid and persistent succession - like they did at Oberlin? We have policies for a case-by-case basis of hate crimes and harassment, but our student body and administration must be prepared in order to respond appropriately. What measures will we take to ensure the psychological and physical security of students? We don't like to think about these "what if" scenarios, but we must. We can't wait for that moment of hatred to manifest to decide how our community will react.
- Brelage is a senior from Indianapolis majoring in English writing.