Yesterday, members of the secret Z society painted two of their Zs black, leaving a statement explaining their actions and a famous quote about persecution nearby. The symbols, which can be found on the steps leading into Old Cabell Hall and Madison Hall, drew attention from passers-by throughout the day.
"I think it's definitely a strong statement," second-year College student Townsend Jordan said.
Some students said they approved of the society's statement and felt it was timely in light of the recent assault of Student Council President-elect Daisy Lundy.
"I think it's an appropriate time for societies such as the Z society to be doing this, with all the recent events," said third-year Architecture student Kate Thatcher. "I think that through their symbols they are a public figure on campus and they have the responsibility to take action."
According to the public statement left beside the freshly painted Z, the group feels that the responsibility for action lies in the hands of individual members of the community.
The statement claims, "We have painted our two most visible symbols black to signify the belief that progress will only be achieved through recognition and celebration of our shared past. Just as the Z is a symbol of the University as a whole, this gesture embodies the unanimous, renewed and permanent commitment to positive change. The dialogue between students, faculty, administration, and the broader community must create a unified movement towards fulfilling those truths that we supposedly hold to be self-evident. The time for action is now."
In spite of this explanation, some students said they were concerned about what the painted Z really meant.
"I recognize the symbolic value of painting the Z black, but there's a statement about the truths that are held self-evident and it really kind of references what I consider to be a racist document," said fourth-year College student Michael Bishop. "Their referencing it, to me, shows that maybe they haven't put the level of thought into their response that they could have."
Jordan, however, said he felt any action at all was a positive step.
"The solution to this would be world peace, but has that happened? No," he said. "Can we make it better? Yes. How? I don't know. But at least they tried."
Read More
Top 10 things to know before attending the Foxfield Races
By Malone Morchower | 25 minutes agoEvery year, students arrive in droves to watch the horses, bask in the sun and hang out with friends before finals and summer vacation.
The perfect pony-themed bite for Foxfield
By Evalina Caruccio | 14 hours agoHunt Country is the perfect spot to grab some lunch for a picnic, or my personal favorite — the best way to fight Foxfield famish.
Letting go of my first year FOMO
By Mai Hukuoka | YesterdayIn an attempt to transition to University life, I found myself saying “yes” to way too many things, which left me feeling detached from my surroundings rather than at home on Grounds.
