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TechnographCampus confronts hate
By Teresa Sewell
Posted: 10/3/05 Section: News
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Anti-Hate Week, is dedicated to providing the first step for those programs by educating people about oppression in all of its forms.
The Anti-Hate Series originated when the housing and residence department wanted to create an inclusive and safe environment for all students, said Khristian Kemp-Delisser, Assistant Director of the Office for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Concerns.
We are focused on bringing the community together and confronting hate and bias on campus, to send the message that it is not tolerated, Delisser said.
We want to bring diversity and social justice education to campus through a weeklong series, said Crystal Verdun, the resident director of Wardall Hall at Illinois Street Residence Hall.
There are some controversial issues on campus that affect students and they feel silenced because they do not know how to speak out or make a change, Verdun said.
She said this week's series is an outlet to help those students that have felt that they wanted to help, but didn't know how.
It's not just focused on black, white, and Latino/a issues, but any form of oppression, she said.
"I want people to self-reflect... just step outside of their comfort zones and expose themselves to their own prejudices," Verdun said.
Kemp-Delisser agrees that students feel silenced on campus because he said he has noticed that some Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered students of color don't feel welcomed across campus, so they choose to not participate at certain campus events.
He said he goes out into the community to build relationships and visible networks with other departments so students can see safe areas on campus.
Wednesday, there will be a "Lunch and Learn" at La Casa, 1203 W. Nevada St., where students are provided with free lunch and a lecture by Professor Richard Rodriguez.
The topic will be "LGBT issues within the Black, Latino, and Asian Communities."
Delisser said he hopes all types of students will attend the program and have a discussion so students within the LGBT community can feel they have allies outside of their circle.
"It's not just a passive way of dealing with hate," Kemp-Delisser said. "These are programs that encourage people to talk to one another and generate a conversation and challenge their thinking."
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