The Brown & White

The Movement reached its highest turnout in three years, after racist remarks were made toward black students at Lehigh, group representatives said.

More than 80 people attended the meeting Monday night, said Movement representative Sara Bailin, '09, to respond to racists acts on campus last week, which included racial slurs and racially charged remarks about President-Elect Barack Obama.

Fliers were distributed around campus to inform students of the meeting.

Hilary Chadwick, a member of The Movement, said the racist comments on campus are disgusting.

"Why the hell is this happening on our campus?" Chadwick said at the meeting. "It makes me pretty embarrassed to go here."

Discussion lingered on the ambiguity of a flyer that has been posted and seen around campus, in classrooms and residence halls. The paper read, "Your president is black. How does that make you feel?" Many agreed that the intent of the message was unclear.

Bailin said the group began in 2006 because angry students wanted to make a change after realizing that some students did not feel comfortable at Lehigh, their second home.

"Students should feel comfortable, they should have an outlet that they're comfortable going to," Bailin said, adding that outlets do exist at Lehigh, but that it is up to students to pursue them.

Amy Forando, '11, who attended the meeting, said when she told people about the meeting on Monday, a lot of students responded that they wouldn't bother to go because they didn't think they could make a change.

Nikki Bayard, '10, said when she discussed the recent events with others, their responses were not of shock.

"The response I got was, 'I'm not surprised people at Lehigh are racist, sexist, homophobic,'" Bayard said. "Even if you're not hearing it, it's happening."

She said she believes Lehigh is small enough that students can make a change, but there is a culture of silence at Lehigh.

"It is our community here for four or more years," Bayard said, and if racism is the norm, "I would like it to be different than the norm."

Lara Boffey, '09, said that until Monday, The Movement had been 10 people sitting in a room. She said the 70 people in the room were all their own movements. She said she's disgusted by the stories circulating around campus of the racist comments shouted at students.

"I'm starting to feel like this is 1965 again," Boffey said, referring to the racial slurs heard on campus after the election. "Why could we have gone back in time?"

One audience member said people have felt uncomfortable at Lehigh for years. He said this is not a flier or an isolated event, but the campus climate in general.

John Collins, '09, said bringing up these events is going to stir up anger.

"Getting together and hanging out is the greatest thing we could possible do," said Collins. "We should get together whether there's an issue or not."

"I was called an 'ignorant black bitch,' and I'll be damned if I'm called it again," said one female student, who asked to remain anonymous.

Some students, who want to see the campus environment change, have created groups to try to affect that change.

The group Kaleidoscope began last year and had nine members. This year, membership is about 14 or 15, said Ted Morrin, a first-year graduate student and member of Kaleidoscope.

The group leads discussions and presents programs to organizations and groups on campus, including Greek houses, residence halls, ASA, Student Leadership Trainers and prospective students.

Kaleidescope also created a presentation for the Dean of Students office last year and was invited to be a part of the First Year Experience this year. Morrin estimates Kaleidoscope has conducted 20 to 25 individual presentations.

"It's a small group, but we try to get a lot done," said Morrin.

Chadwick said there was a walk-out her freshman year in an effort to call attention to the lack of diversity and segregation of different groups on campus.

"There was attention drawn and some pressure put on the administration, and then it died out again," Chadwick said.

Calvin John Smiley, a graduate student, said he encountered racism his sophomore year.

"Greek and white is the majority. Why should the black community have to reach out?" Smiley said. "I'm sick and tired of people making empty promises."

For over an hour and a half, discussion included students' anger and frustration with the campus climate and communication between students. Some students said no plan of action had been mentioned, and Bailin and Chadwick, among others, repeatedly tried to focus the group on taking action.

Student Senate President Divya Nayar, '10, said individuals and groups need to publicly condemn it. She said a petition might be a good first step.

"We should start with a bottom-up movement," Nayar said. "A visible change needs to happen."

As was decided at the end of the meeting, on Tuesday students wore a red shirt and a sign that read "I am not just [fill in the blank], I am a Lehigh student."