At the Black Student Alliance's second public meeting for its "Zero Tolerance for Ignorance" campaign last night, BSA officers released a list of recommendations to improve race relations at the University.
Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, BSA vice president of networking, reviewed the list of recommendations drafted at a Sept. 23 BSA Town Hall Meeting held in response to the reported vandalism of fourth-year College student Amey Adkins' car last month.
The outline of the recommendations, drawn up by BSA President Myra Franklin, includes four sections: organizational recommendations to facilitate working relationships among student organizations, faculty, students and administration; specific individual and collaborative projects; accountability recommendations and safety initiatives.
One of the aims of the campaign is to incorporate as many student groups and members of the Charlottesville community as possible, Agbeshie-Noye said.
"We don't want to restrict ourselves to the U.Va. bubble," he said. "Although the BSA called the meeting, it is everybody's issue."
The BSA has received offers to collaborate from the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Inter-Sorority Council, and organizational involvement is growing.
"The big thing is accountability," Agbeshie-Noye said. "We need to make sure everyone has an investment in what's going on."
The movement's goal is to propagate awareness of "Zero Tolerance for Ignorance" on Grounds, as well as to establish racial and ethnic tolerance at the University, he said.
"U.Va. isn't the worst place, but there is such a big opportunity for change and a majority of people are open to that idea," Agbeshie-Noye said.
Daisy Rodriguez, assistant dean of Asian and Asian-Pacific American students, voiced her support for organizational collaboration last night.
"At the Asian Leaders Council, 18 organizations were there and they all want to support the mission's statement and put their names behind it," Rodriguez said.
The "Zero Tolerance for Ignorance" campaign advocates that the same treatment be applied for a racial offense and a sex offense. Another recommendation calls for the campaign's policy to be "engraved in every building, office, all U.Va. affiliated environments" to ensure "community accountability."
A need to ensure the safety of University students also influenced the recommendations. Some prescribed measures include the installation of surveillance cameras and increased lighting on Grounds.
Meeting attendants also proposed other ideas. Student Council Chief of Staff Daisy Lundy said there needs to be a more efficient medium for publicizing diversity issues.
"We need lots of people to be more aware," Lundy said.
Campaign recommendations will be developed further at the next "Zero Tolerance for Ignorance" meeting scheduled for Oct. 14. Until then, Agbeshie-Noye advised forum attendants to look over the report from University President John T. Casteen, III and his Commission on Diversity and Equity, which is accessible online.
--Staff Writer Becca Garrison contributed to this report.
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