uproar and changes

Colleges and Universities A-Z Haverford College
1

<p>This goes out to current students. I have been reading the bi-co newspaper lately and was shocked to see that at HC a Quaker school with the vaunted Honor Code there is a very disturbing racial relations problem on campus .A number of black students have written scathing opinion letters decrying race relations on campus. There have been a few well attended meetings on campus to address the issues. The African American students call this endemic and long standing with their campus the opposite of inclusive. So current students what's going on at your school that prides itself as small and harmonious?</p>

<p>Add to that issue your president has given his notice after ten years.</p>

<p>Dana's Dad</p>

2

<p>As you addressed this to current students, I'll let them take 1st crack at your question... if any are around and have time to procrastinate that is. As we wait for their reply, it may be worth checking out "race" relations on other forums to at least frame your concerns with HC in perspective... check out Williams in particular. </p>

<p>P.S. Without sounding ungrateful, although Tritton did a lot for HC administratively, my impression is that he didn't particularly click well with a sizeable fraction of HC students and made some questionable unilateral decisions regarding Tri-Co and an honor counsel trial in particular. He was recruited as a scientist/ administrator to raise $$$ for the KINSC and to get that project completed and he did a great job with it. HC's emphasis is now on expanding the arts/ humanities and it wouldn't surprise me if the candidates will reflect that direction. It also seems that Tritton, after much needed rest, will continue teaching at HC, which would be a good thing.</p>

3

<p>Oh boy! I want to respond to this too but i'll wait.</p>

4

<p>HC Alum:</p>

<p>My D and I have always enjoyed your previous comments here. </p>

<p>Although race may be an issue at many schools including Williams, my question was directed at what HC's student newspaper was reporting about Haverford. As this was the first indication we ever read about this "problem" which is of obvious concern to at least a portion of the campus black community and concerned non-blacks we are focusing on Haverford. Each college or university may have their own unique diversity issues or lack thereof but Haverford's public relations focus is of a campus of respect and inclusion as it applies to diversity . These opinion articles tend to debunk HC's spin and I am sure CC participants want to know all sides to this story to gain an insight.</p>

<p>As for you richen 123 for one so eager why procrastinate?</p>

<p>My daughter is very interested in Haverford and is applying in the Fall so this is an obvious story of interest to her, my wife and I.
Dana's Dad</p>

5

<p>As a current student I wanted to briefly address the race issue. I think many times Haverford is cast as a utopian paradise where no one is ever unhappy or frustrated. While Haverford tends to not have very many problems, we do have some. Yes, a number of students of color have expressed frustration with Haverford. However, (in my view at least, and others may well disagree with me) that part of the problem is that haverford students are too respectful of each other and aren't always willing to have more difficult conversations to lead to more genuine cultural understanding. I think that it is also important to note that these issues are not just brushed under the rug. After the articles you are alluding to were published, there was a race forum that was extremely well-attended and lasted for several hours. A message boared thread about the articles was one of the most thought-provoking things i've read. Haverford has had and does have problems with race on campus (one can look at the abstracts "Charlie" and "The Muppets" on the Honor Council website to see how bad some of our past mistakes have been) but it is always working to make itself better and better understand and celebrate the experiences and culture of all its students. The students of Haverford aren't perfect, but I think that what makes Haverford special is the community's willingness (in general) to work to fix what is wrong at Haverford.</p>

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<p>I'm sorry if my last post seemed curt. You asked for "current students" and I graduated 4 years ago. I was following HC Alum's thread to not get involved for the moment in order to let current students speak, as proper, even though I wanted to jump in.</p>

<p>This is a link to historic pictures archived at Haverford. My point is that issues with race relations have been a part of America and Haverford for a while.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.haverford.edu/library/sc/haverford166/HTML/protests.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.haverford.edu/library/sc/haverford166/HTML/protests.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I'm not going to speak of the current events, as I don't know anything about them, but feel somewhat OK to discuss my own experience as a white student. I'm a busy professional (trained in law) and with a family. As you can tell, I valued my time at Haverford- I love it what it is, what it strives to be, and I also appreciate it's imperfections and what it is not. </p>

<p>As someone wrote here, race is a defining experience for many people and race relations in America seems to be the inescapable bugaboo. I think HC Alum's comment to other elite colleges was that intelligent and talented students may still be immature and insensitive. Even at a place like Haverford with its honor code and self-selected student population, you will find apathy, disinterest and occasionally disrespect. I don't blame Haverford, but rather American society and what experiences the kids have had in their 17-18 years prior which they bring to campus.</p>

<p>I'm surprised with your comment about how Haverford is "selling itself", as when I was a student, the publication, tours, ect, never glossed over these challenges, debates and issues as they are an integral part of the Haverford experience- how do you rectify having ideal standards placed on an imperfect community? I would never want to skim over this because trying to figure such things out is what makes the Haverford experience 3 dimensional and beyond just academics and a decent social life/extracurriculars.</p>

<p>Regarding the current issues that you raised, all I'm going to say is that it takes a lot of guts to write what that student wrote and, at the same time, it takes a particular openess in campus culture so that an URM student can feel empowered enough to write "Why are white students annoying?" and to then organize and lead a campus discussion of 200 or so students during what appeared to be mid-term exam time.</p>

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<p>Let me begin by saying what a pleasure it is to converse with so many interesting people. I find the level of discourse on CC especially in the lac threads thought provoking and respectful. I thank janderwicki and richen for their wise replies. As a lawyer of 33 years I found both of your comments made alot of sense.</p>

<p>However when janderwicki noted that ".... many times Haverford is cast as a utopian paradise..." lends itself to my point that this "casting " is the result of HC's literature to prospective students as well as the the web site for the college and what the tour guides tell families on the campus tour. It is the repitition of the small community governing its own behavior in a spirit of consensous and openmindedness that is indeed an overt marketing tool. Richen as a trained attorney you know we sell our ideas in legal briefs and closing and opening statements. The college web page, the campus tour and the view book are every colleges' opening statement. A means of distinguishing itself from its competitors. HC's opening statement is the Honor Code, and its values of inclusiveness. This is how I have interpreted the school's message. If I am incorrect so be it but that is how the school's literature entered my mind.</p>

<p>I agree that colleges reflect society. But it is unfortunate that the HC students had to take to an editorial page to air their sadness rather than to reach out to their fellow students who are supposed to be intellectual elites of liberal leanings to express their concerns and gain understanding and inclusion.</p>

<p>I do think that the follow up campus meetings and message board posting are positive steps forward. </p>

<p>Richen you note that you don't blame Haverford but rather American society. However was the administration unaware of the problem? Also ask yourself what was wrong with the African American students' advisers and the various Deans that these citizens of HC did not feel comfortable enough to unburden themselves of their sense of isolation and the school's lack of diversity inclusion in their school community?</p>

<p>When you have a tiny school like HC there are very few places to turn to to seek solace or friendship if you are an underepresented minority that believes nobody wants you there.</p>

<p>All that being said I do laud the white students for reaching out and I hope things change if my kid goes to school there.Again thank both of you for your wise responses.</p>

<p>Dana's Dad</p>

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<p>hmmm. a lot to think about and a lot to do. that's ok, though and i was expecting it.</p>

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<p>It pains me to realize that my HC experience is now considered “history”. The “Charlie” abstract happened in 1994 and 2 of the 3 “Angels” were my friends. As a follow up, Charlie went to Stanford Law, Sabrina owns a very successful jewelry house in Manhattan (featured in W and Cosmo last year) after being an expert appraiser at Christies, Jill is a professor at a top Ivy, and I’m not sure where Kelly is... last time I heard, she was in charge of a grass-roots community organization and considering law school. All of them, I see on the alumni giving list.</p>

<p>If you were to see the front page of the Bi-Co of April 1993, you will notice a close-up picture of 300 students protesting the “silencing of minority students” at HC with an angry Asian guy in the middle of the picture wearing a gag around his mouth... that would be me surrounded by my friends: Asian, Black, Latino and White. Initially, I did feel that HC’s modest Quaker culture silences real debate, but I only later realized my sophomore year that it allows you to find your voice as well and I agree with Richen’s last paragraph. It isn’t HC’s fault and, I’ll take it a step further, it isn’t anyone’s problem other than your own: being silenced and marginalized is a result of being overwhelmed by your own frustration. </p>

<p>I and my friends would NEVER want a HC without discord or to have a perfect Honor Code because that is the HC experience. I don’t remember much from freshman organic chem, or Bio-inorganic chem 400 or even Sacred Texts with Michael Sells, but I do remember all of the lessons learned from trying to deal with the question that Rich quoted: “how do you deal with perfect standards on an imperfect community”? It’s the process of trying to figure this out which prepares you for the real world. If HC provided a perfectly cozy and accepting experience, how can its graduates be ready to deal with the frustrations that are beyond Lancaster Ave? My friends and I, looking back on our time at HC, will laugh, shake our heads “No”, roll our eyes in disbelief, put our hands to cover our faces, and then smile with extreme satisfaction and pride at what we learned.</p>

<p>To answer your specific ?s, HC is a small community that governs itself. That’s the truth. It’s also the truth that, as young adults, HC students can and do make mistakes with the responsibility that’s given to them and it’s a part of the process. HC does strive for consensus, open-mindedness and inclusion. It doesn’t get there ½ the time, but as I said before, students grow as a result from this mix (ie. you may not always get the audience you hope for but you will always get the stage). The administration shouldn’t interfere with student affairs. I know we, as adults who went through the process, may know how to better handle things, but the current students need (and do) figure it out in the end… even though the path may not be pretty. That’s not to say that Tritton and the Deans don’t have an open door for students who need advice or want to vent... because they do.</p>

<p>Finally, regarding the article that you cited, “Why are white people annoying?”, I’m not going to critique it other than to say that I may have wanted to write something like that freshman year, but I learned from my mistakes and hope that the writer’s next op-ed will be, “I don’t care if you’re 'annoying'! I’m here for myself and its not my responsibility to teach you anything, but if you want to listen as I talk, then more power to you.”</p>

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<p>ahhhhhh haaaa!</p>

<p>So I was just wonderin' where my hotty of a boyfriend (HCAlum) spends his time when he's not with me, or doing research, or in the hospital, or at the gym, or volunteering with homeless people. Well it could be worse- I mean, he could be lookin' at kiddy porn. Haverford College is very lucky to have an alum who cares as much about the place and who exemplifies this honor code as him. (when he sees a Haverford t-shirt on the street, his face will lite up like a jack-o-lantern- fortunately, we're not going to his 10th year reunion as he just might about blow up with Haverford overload). The one warning with his recommendations is that he makes things seems simple and easy because they are for him. If you are in the top percentile of intelligence (he scored 99% on the 3 part medical licensing examinations and 95% on the medicine boards recently), and top percentile in confidence, modesty and kindness, and hotness (you can bounce a quarter off him) then his comments will probably apply to you. If not, just try the best you can.</p>

<p>P.S. don't forget to pick me up at the airport and clean the bathroom please</p>

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<p>Sorry about that.
It's aweful what can happen when my girlfriend stops taking her medicines. Truly disturbing. :(</p>

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<p>HC it seems like your girlfriend's post was either her nomination of you for the Nobel prize or a plaintiff cry for more of your attention. However it is so nice to be loved. Dana's Dad</p>

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<p>Can someone provide a link to the article about "Why Are White People Annoying?". I'd really like to read the specifics of the writer's dissatisfaction. My D (who is bi-racial) attends Bryn Mawr, and year before last, there was a protest lodged by some of the black students there during Plenary. Problem was, they apparently didn't list any specific grievances, just seemed to complain in the abstract. D said it was very frustrating.</p>

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<p>Go to the Haverford College website and find student activities and then click on bi-co news which is the HC and BMC student newspaper. I am sure they must have an archive for past articles.</p>

<p>Dana's Dad</p>

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<p>HC: Were you in the "Charle" abstract? Was the protest you described related? Feel free to send me a private message.</p>

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<p><a href="http://biconews.com/article/view/4718%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://biconews.com/article/view/4718&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>3/28/06- "White People Are Annoying—But Why?"</p>