The meeting was held to discuss several racial incidents that have occcured recently in the residence halls. According to Vice President and Dean for Campus Life Frances Lucas-Tauchar, two students were studying in their room in Harris Hall, when someone continued to ring their doorbell, then ran away. When the students opened their door, they found a sheet of paper with the message, "You niggers will never sleep."
The incident occured on Monday, Sept. 25, at 3:15 a.m., and the students involved had asked that the matter be kept confidential. On Sept. 28, the students gave Campus Life staff permission to go public with the details of the incident. While other incidents have occurred as well, the students involved in those incidents still are requesting confidentiality.
Lucas-Tauchar, who gave opening remarks at the meeting, characterized the actions as "mean and evil-spirited," and challenged members of the community to "do everything we can to dissuade this kind of act."
Lucas-Tauchar, along with Chace and Black Student Alliance President Jonathan Butler, gave remarks before the floor was opened for a general discussion. Emotions ran high as students questioned the handling of the incidents as well as the recent invitation by the College Republicans and the Indian Cultural Exchange to author and former Reagan Administration official Dinesh D'Souza. The issue of who is ultimately responsible for eliminating racism from the campus culture -- students or the administration -- was discussed at length.
Chace responded about D'Souza, saying that liberal education is effective only when all the voices are heard, the only limit being when there is a threat of imminent violence to the community. He also said that speakers must be willing to answer questions.
Vera Rorie, director of the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services, in closing remarks, said, "I've been black a long time. I'm here by choice and I'm not going anywhere until I'm ready. I'm here by choice, and so are all of you. You're scholars who applied all over the country; you chose Emory for a reason. And if Emory is going to be a pluralistic, working, open environment, we've got to make it that way."
Chace, in an Emory Report Bulletin sent to campus on Sept 29, stated that he had ordered Lucas-Tauchar and Chief of Police Craig Watson to "mobilize every resource at their command to determine who [the perpetrators] are."
Lucas-Taucher has formed a task force to respond to the recent incidents.
-- Nancy M. Spitler