Students and professors discussed the University's history of slavery last night at the forum, "Acknowledging Slavery at U.Va.," sponsored by the Office of African-American Affairs. A panel of students and professors debated whether or not the University should issue an apology for its involvement in slavery.
Fourth-year College student Alexis Logan, fourth-year Education student Destiney Newton and second-year College student Patrick Martinez began the forum by presenting a slide show that reflected a semester's worth of work in African-American Affairs Dean M. Rick Turner's class, SOC 410, "African American Communities."
According to Logan, who led the forum, Turner had discussed the possible issuing of an apology by the University throughout the semester. This forum was aimed at fostering discussion of this issue.
In their presentation, students discussed Thomas Jefferson's controversial legacy as a slaveholder by examining Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia."
In discussing a hypothetical apology issued by the University, students alluded to the reparations paid to Holocaust victims, Japanese Americans held in internment camps and the recent apology issued by the University of Alabama for its history of slavery.
Students and professors agreed that an apology should also be issued by the University.
According to African-American Studies Prof. Scot French, this apology should serve only as the first step in addressing the controversial history of slavery at the University.
"There's a special case to be made that Virginia owes something, particularly to African-Americans [and] African Virginians, and this could be the basis for reminding Virginia of that responsibility over time," he said.
Fourth-year College student Jade Craig echoed this sentiment.
"Apology is the first step to reconciliation," he said. "If the U.S. government apologized for slavery, that could be the first step to racial reconciliation in our country."
According to Turner, the forum will foster discussion of these issues. "Having this discussion will uplift a more healthy, nurturing, welcoming environment for African-American students," Turner said.
Turner added that addressing this issue will depend on the involvement of all students.
"All students need to come to grips with the injustices of the University," Turner said. "Whether students will rally around [this cause], that's up to the students."
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