It may not be a surprise that my only dream is to be alive to witness equality somewhere. I do not think that I am asking for too much as I wish to witness it here on DePauw’s campus. So, I have composed a letter that I was going to submit to the Board of Trustees in order to push for change a thousandth time. I encountered a major problem—I could not find an email address or an office to send my letter. I searched on the Board of Trustee’s webpage and found a list of names and job titles without anyone’s contact information. I am unsure how I can get in contact with anyone on the board, so, I have decided to write another article in hope that a member will read it. I also hope that students, staff, faculty and other alums understand that my concerns are sincere and that they can help to protect DePauw’s campus.
Dear Board of Trustees,
I want to first thank you for acknowledging most problems that influence our campus’ climate. You have organized meetings and thought out plans amazingly. You have informed students that you are fully aware of the marginalized and underrepresented groups on our campus. While #DePauwCares sounds great, I personally did not and do not feel this way. In your defense, I would agree that change takes time. The problem is that I am now a senior, and I have yet to find the large issue of inclusion fully addressed and resolved.
I don’t know if you have read my previous articles published in The DePauw. If you have not, I sincerely recommend you take the time to review and consider my suggestions. Regulating how officers interact with our students is one that is simple. It can be put into effect between next semester and the next academic school year. It would be a step into the right direction to ensure that all students feel safe.
Secondly, some students didn’t see the problem with black males experiencing brutal treatment from the police. This tells me that DePauw is failing to educate students about the history of underrepresented and marginalized groups. Professor Clarissa Peterson, during a panel last week, offered some great insights on solving this issue. She recognizes that “DePauw needs a diverse faculty and staff and needs to hire faculty that brings something new to our curriculum if we truly care about inclusion.” Peterson goes on to humbly admit that, “if we hire more like ourselves, we won’t achieve that inclusion.” Her suggestion is another solution that can quickly be implemented—granted that it may take time to ensure that every professor’s curriculum is as inclusive as possible.
Lastly, I know you all are doing your best, but I really do not understand why it takes over three years to address concerns and inform students about university improvements. My graduation is around the corner and while I may not be able to enjoy the privilege of feeling that #DePauwCares, I do want to make sure underclassmen are able to experience it. If you expect me to be a supportive alum by donating to DePauw to improve its ranking, I highly recommend that you take my concerns seriously. Thank you so much for listening.
A highly concerned student,
Taylor Jones
Jones is a senior English writing and women's studies double major from St. Louis, Missouri.