Dear Editor:
The decision made by the Student Senate concerning a proposal that would make it mandatory for its members to attend a campus – sponsored multicultural event proves that I, like much of the nation’s youth, have been sorely misled in believing that the struggle against discrimination has forged ahead.
That such a vile decision should be made by a chosen body, elected to represent all students of our prestigious school, or that it should even be marked for consideration, should frighten and appall us: the sons and daughters of generations rising to dismantle the ridiculous barriers between races.
It is inexcusable that the senators whiningly justified their action by claiming that they are too busy to attend just one more event. Yet it is the fact that they chose to exclude multicultural events specifically that indicates their regression into veiled bigotry.
Our senators have the obligation, which they accepted when elected into office, to serve and represent all members of the university, including members of other cultures as well. If the senators truly cared for the students on campus, concern would be shown in attempting to incorporate their constituents’ cultural groups into their busy agendas.
However, it is clear that our elected senators, those who opposed the integration of multicultural events, showed that their decision to run for office was based more on their desire for an image than their desire to serve the school.
Images, after all, are what this is all about. There is the image that racial discrimination has ceased and been stricken from the SMU campus. There is the image that people of a majority race would support the efforts of minority groups to become recognized parts of the community. There is the image that, with all the fliers and welcoming invitations for all groups to attend a multicultural event, the audience is a friendly fusion of people and cultures. There is the image that the senators are devoted to their positions as representatives of these minority groups.
The truth is, rather, that the people attending these events are consistently of the same group as those sponsoring the event, and little diversity may be seen amongst its patrons.
It is my perception that those of us who belong to minority groups are not taken seriously, that our events and organizations are of less importance than, say, the Student Senate, Pan-Hellenic fraternities and sororities and campus Pro-Christian student groups.
Asking someone to attend an event organized through one of the multicultural organizations on campus is not asking people to accept a new religion, philosophy or way of life. The community is asking only that people of all cultures and backgrounds merge to promote campus diversity, and it is a damn shame that our elected representatives are pathetically avoiding setting the example.
SMU accepts students of all races and backgrounds, embraces their cultures and shares in the experiences brought by all people to its campus. What, then, should exclude the foremost student body representatives from attending just one semesterly event that would introduce them to aspects of another culture?
Why is it that a proposal even had to be made for our senators to attend a multicultural event?
And why was it that it was stricken in such a disgraceful manner – because of a senator sleeping outside? A diverse campus wants to know.
Kelly Devlin
Junior electrical engineering major
