10 Ways to Fight Hate on Campus

The first time I decided not to tolerate hate was my senior year in college. I woke up one morning preparing for school and as I left my apartment I looked across and saw "KKK" spray-painted on the adjacent dorm building. I go to the phone called the police and went to class. When I returned from my last class it was power-washer off. I thought in the next issue of the campus newspaper there would be an article about the incident. As time went on there was none. The campus does make a point that if there is a black assailant to place fliers all over campus as well as cover story in the paper, and a crime alert. The last thing I did to let the public know, I was on the news. This was my first step to fighting back. I wish I know about Tolerance.org., my efforts could have been noticed and build a group to combat the issue. According to Tolerance.org, there are ten ways to fight hate on campus.

1) Rise Up: This is easier said than done. Most students fear what will happen if they talk. If you do not talk there is even much more to fear. According to annual crime report on my former campus hate crimes do not exist.

2) Pull Together: This is not the easiest thing to do. When I experienced racism on campus there were plenty of people who agreed with my anger but they never wanted to come forward and act on stopping the hate. Things that can be done bring to unite front to combat hate. Alliances: Contact recent graduates, minority student group, other student activists, powerful alumni, and national organizations, just to name a few. Strategies: Go higher for example, campus administrator, Go local for example, local businesses, Go national for example, national offices. Roadblocks and Opposition: Apathy, Administrators and police, Activists, other students, white supremacist groups.

3) Speak Out: In order to do this you to be able to effectively communicate. When publicly speaking out be sure to describe the event at hand, acknowledge university history or shortcomings, and honor those who are united against hate.

4) Support the Victim: Do not speak them, get the victims input, and do not re-victimize the victim.

5) Name it, Know it: In order to scream hate crime you must first know what it is. A hate crime is a physical assault, intimidation, arson or vandalism and the crime is motivated by bias.

6) Understand the Media: Be sure to give accurate information about the incident at hand. The media has a way of slanting the truth.

7) Know your Campus: Institutional racism does exist.Knowing your campus is a good idea so that you can point out bigotry an defined way s to reduce them. For example, Minority representation, faculty, staff, and students, Accessibility issues, and Academic coursework.

8) Teach Tolerance: This may be hard on a college campus but possible. Look for existing resources. No point in reinventing the wheel. Bring in speakers and trainers, to get more people have free food.

9) Maintain Momentum: This is hard to do. There exams, project, and students are trying to graduate. You have to constantly recruiter.

10) Pass the Torch: This may also be hard if you have a lack of members. Create an archive, administrative promises on paper, pass along your passion, contact faculty members and administrators, carry skills to your next job, internship, or graduate school.

I hope this helps in your quest for justice on your college campus.

Sources:
http://www.police.uncc.edu/
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way1.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way2.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way3.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way4.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way5.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way6.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way7.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way8.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way9.jsp
http://www.tolerance.org/campus/way10-2.jsp