In 2003, a 19-year-old biracial U.Va. student named Daisy Lundy was attacked by a white man during her campaign for Student Council president. The response to this incident by the University community was outstanding. The administration called a mass meeting that packed the Newcomb ballroom, President John T. Casteen, III and Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer Patricia Lampkin issued formal statements of denunciation, students organized a candlelight vigil, officials created two new committees on diversity and the FBI launched a full investigation.\nA similar racially motivated attack took place last week, though without physical violence. But the response by the University community has been profoundly disappointing. Indeed, the reply by most seems to be in the mold of "It happens all the time; it's not a big deal; get over it." As I see it, though, the mundane ubiquity of this sort of racism is precisely the problem, and precisely the reason that incidents like this warrants our attention as a community.
As an educator here, I am shocked that there are students coming out of our University system still clinging to such flagrant, unthinking prejudices. After the 2003 incident, students and faculty called for mandatory sensitivity training for all incoming first-years. I think it's time to raise this call once again. During orientation, students are bombarded with information about the Honor System - why is there no such pressure on the subject of race issues? Even better, why not include a mandatory mini seminar on race as a core requirement?
The problem needs to be attacked at its root, and critical education is a good place to start. But we need justice at the other end, too. The University Judiciary Committee should waste no time in taking up this case, for this is a matter of Honor. The perpetrator of this savage and incredibly shameful act should be brought to trial before a jury of his peers - not only in order to punish his behavior, but as a firm statement that the students of this institution will no longer tolerate intolerance.
Jason Hickle\nGSAS 2011
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