Protesters demonstrate discontent
Laura Koewler
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
|
The protest was advocating cultural diversity and racial acceptance at Gonzaga, and it was compelled by the well-known recent campus controversy.
"'Brokeback Mountain' was the straw that broke the camel's back," protester Brady Smith, a senior, said. "But really, this was more in reaction to everything we've seen [while attending Gonzaga]."
Smith explained that she and fellow protesters have witnessed a significant number of hate crimes, sexual assaults and racial and homosexual issues, and believe that the University hasn't taken any action against the individuals who are responsible.
Eloisa Gonzalez, another senior protester, agreed with Smith's reason for the protest. "There was a bunch of frustration because nothing has been done before," she said. "We've always talked about it, but there hasn't been any solution."
The protest was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by roughly 30 students, as well as with the support of a few Gonzaga faculty and administrators. The students from groups including Black Student Union, Hawaiian Pacific Islanders Club and HERO collaborated to express their concerns about social issues afflicting the University, which were more simply represented by orange ribbons. The protesters danced to music and handed out their mission statement, which said among other things, "We seek to create a campus that holds true to its 'thirst' for justice." They also distributed a paper with a myriad of facts, personal statements and observations on these issues, which were taken from The Gonzaga Bulletin's issues from 1992 to 2003.
The protesters illustrated their point through signs, which read, "Adding color to the people the world needs most," or "We're not going to take it anymore" and "How about giving up hate for Lent?"
Dr. Mark Alfino, a philosophy professor, thought the demonstration was "refreshing." Alfino has been working with students, faculty and staff on GUaffirmsequality.net, which focuses on equality for GLBT members of the community and encourages equality overall. "We need to be more comfortable talking about these issues, and these students were willing to commit their time to directing people's attention to some problems college campuses like Gonzaga have in the area of social justice."
All students were welcomed to participate and voice their own concerns to the University. A long scroll of paper was set out where individuals could write any comments about these issues, or personal accounts of discrimination.
While the protest was largely centered on the above-mentioned issues, the students were also exercising their right to the freedom of speech. Therefore they also held signs laced with sexual terms.
"The most important part [of the protest] was building a community," Morgan Day, a senior and protest leader, said. "With all of our experiences, we were able to come together and express them to the student body."
"It was inspiring to see how many people wanted to help," Day said, grateful for the number of people who helped make the demonstration a reality by protesting, making signs or crafting ribbons. To her, the protest was valuable because these social issues affect every student, even if they are not directly involved.
"I think this is a sign that students are ready for a change," Gonzalez said.
Opposing viewpoints were sought, but none were available at the time of publication.
A Letter to the Editor representing the views of students involved in the protest is posted under Opinion.