<p>It seems some of what was discussed during those 2 days were that gays and other minorities felt that the atmosphere might be a bit unfriendly. It is their opinions that were being voiced. Peter05 has a point in what he is saying. I think schools can become a bit complacent about awareness and intolerence. Denison is a great school but really isn't as diverse as it could be. Perhaps this is a discussion that was long overdue and very much needed by the student body.If it pushed under the rug and dismissed it will never change. Recognizing what is wrong is the first step. I'm proud they were able to do that.What they choose to do with all they have gained from this will say who they are as a student body and as a college. I know as parents of students at Denison it is hard to see the faults but that doesn't always mean they aren't there.</p>
<p>I guess I just don't see it as a "fault" that Denison students felt free to stand up at a forum and air their feelings and subsequently work on solutions. Do you honestly think gay kids or black kids feel any more comfortable at a comparable midwest LAC? I don't. </p>
<p>And what should Denison do to improve diversity on campus? About the only suggestion our international guest this week had was to eliminate the early orientations for URM and international students.</p>
<p>I was just thinking too: </p>
<p>Getting back to my "microcosm" theory (post #9), I think the 4-year on campus residence requirement (which I've become less and less a fan of) further magnifies these unfortunate social realities. Many similar small schools self-segregate more readily than Denison - kids move off campus with their little clique and they no longer really interact at the same level. Everything SEEMS smooth (just like in our society as a whole).</p>
<p>I also work with a college bound URM population, and so maybe the realities of further diversifying these types of schools just seems more formidable to me. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but there are so many factors involved...You can't just enroll them - the focus must be on graduating them.</p>
<p>Who said what happened in the forum over those 2 days was a "fault"!! My child was deeply involved in what happened and to take the steps necessary to grow from it, and to call that forum a "fault" would be to dismiss the steps they took forward to make their campus a better place for everyone. I hope you aren't just dismissing how they felt. Maybe you don't really know what was happening during that time. It's hard sometimes to see past your feelings and HEAR what someone else might be saying.</p>
<p>I agree with sideways that it might be hard sometimes to see past one's feeling. weenie, I am appalled that you would suggest self-segregation as a solution to Denison's problems.</p>
<p>rzz20 - In NO WAY do I condone self-segregation, and I am sorry if you misunderstood my post! If you knew what I do for a living you would be stunned that you even suggested that. I was simply stating the obvious. I have advocated on here (in case you didn't read my other posts) that this situation was a critical teaching moment for the students, the faculty and the administration. I've applauded the students for standing up and speaking out. My point (that I must not be making very well - sorry about that!) has been that just because this school wide event occurred at Dension, I do not think it is fair to single out Denison for having a tolerance problem. I think (I know) it is widespread on US campuses; some are dealing with it more openly than others.</p>
<p>Sideways - We discussed the situation at length this week, and fortunately, we were lucky enough to host an international student from Denison too who had an interesting perspective on it. (Clearly, there weren't many students untouched by it.) Oh, and I used the word "fault" because you had used it in your post #21. If I misinterpreted, what is the fault you referred to? </p>
<p>Also, I would like to hear your (and everybody else's) suggestions for further diversifying Denison.</p>
<p>A similar "stand up" event at Kenyon that never made the news:
Students</a> "Stand Up for Kenyon" - News</p>
<p>The "fault" I refer to is that you may be looking at Denison through "rose colored glasses". You are a one man PR machine who sometimes leaves out what may not paint a perfect picture. That doesn't mean it isn't there or that Denison is a bad place for it. There isn't nirvana at any school. You have to accept the good but recognize what might not be so great.I have very high regard for Denison, but to say there is no room for improvement is silly(as I think the administration has often said and as the student body is working hard to accomplish). I'm not sure anyone is saying this only happens at Denison but in your zeal to prove that it doesn't you seem to dismiss what has happened and deflect it onto other schools. This is the Denison site and an event that happened to their student body. I don't care about Kenyon or any other school. I am proud at Denisons student body for taking a stand and for learning that intolerance should never be tolerated. Let Kenyon and whatever other school you want to point out not take away from Denison and the lessons they have learned.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You are a one man PR machine...
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Geez, you hurt my feelings there. (And for others, I am NOT a man!)</p>
<p>OK, sorry about that. To be honest, I do sometimes wonder why I bother to advocate for Denison at all on this forum. No one really seems to care one way or the other, and most kids and parents on here really have no interest in this level school.</p>
<p>I'm not sure that is true. It's a best kept secret. I have been very happy with most of what Denison has offered. I think they are definetly on the rise in people eye's. I just think as a parent it is important to understand everything you can about a school, good or bad, in order to help your child make a educated decision that they can live with. As you said this can happen anywhere, but it happened here. The students will have to learn and grow from it. Prospective students will have to decide how they feel about it. I think it makes the school a better place for recognizing what might be wrong and trying to fix it not let it fester.</p>
<p>FWIW - One thought from a DU parent-to-be. Just because my boys are heterosexual athletes does not mean they are "meatheads" who condone intolerance/exclusion toward others. It seems to me that a contrary assumption was suggested above, in the course of advocating for changes in student recruiting. Isn't that type of blanket stereotyping (i.e., athletes create an intolerant community) something we want to avoid, both in principle and in practice? Treating each member of a community with a presumptive respect, rather than a pejorative label, would seem the wiser way to teach appreciation for individuality and diversity. </p>
<p>We watched and discussed the recent campus controversy at Denison -- at precisely the time my second son decided to apply ED (choosing DU over a number of top tier LACS and natl universities) and was completing his application. It prompted us to talk about tolerance and prejudice, to recognize that sometimes doing nothing is doing something. We wandered into topics like why gay adoption and civil marriage make sense to both of us. These incidents and the ensuing responses helped to emphasize the potential difference that each individual student can make in the community each day, sometimes by simple acts of civility. So airing the issues and examining what changes might improve the campus climate were pluses to us. </p>
<p>Bad things will happen -- it's what you do about it that counts -- that reveals your character. DU spoke up instead sweeping controversy under the proverbial rug. In our view, many DU students have showed good character in their response thus far.</p>
<p>That's actually really well-said...I really enjoyed what you said you in your last paragraph. I do disagree with your first point about athletes. It is unreasonable to treat every member of a group (athletes) in the same way, but I wonder how can you treat members of a group when the majority of incidents occur as a consequence of actions of that group. And I am saying this as a former athlete...</p>