The Brown & White

There's no way of knowing whether fliers found in some issues of Friday's Brown and White and posted around campus that read, "Your president is black. How does that make you feel?" were meant to incite feelings of prejudice or pride, but they stirred conversation.

For many, last Tuesday's election marked a historic first and the election of Barack Obama, a black man, to the nation's highest office uplifted millions of Americans, black and white. But while it might be easy to assume a black president means racial tensions in America have finally dissolved, racist comments made at Lehigh last week prove that the issue has not gone away.

The weeks following a presidential election are bound to include feelings of disappointment, bitterness and even fear from the losing side, especially in an election in which so many were emotionally invested. "Moving to Canada" away messages and "Our country's in trouble" door signs would be just as likely had the election gone the other way.

But when racism appears in place of policy disagreement, it is no longer an issue of partisan bruises. It is an issue of ignorance and hate.

The election brought race to the forefront of national conversation, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Dialogue about divisions between races and prejudices that are still prevalent in American society can be healthy and progressive if done in a thoughtful manner.

Lehigh is an institution of higher education in which students are expected to discuss controversial issues. What should not be tolerated, however, are ignorant and hateful remarks by students in regard to race that allow no chance for intelligent dialogue.

The racist comments of last week were made by a small minority, not representative of the student body but that is no excuse. All students, regardless of race, should feel safe and welcome on campus.