Bigotry and racism on this campus should not be tolerated. But what should also not be tolerated is the groundless assumption that underlies tomorrow’s march, rally and vigil: that someone on campus sprayed the inane and hurtful graffiti that has divided our community.
Then again, the fact that many jump to the conclusion of Yale guilt in the first place is more disheartening than the jump itself: Tragically, Yale is increasingly tension-filled in large part due to the heated racial incidents that have occurred in recent weeks and years.
That an a cappella group will perform and top Yale administrators will speak today is evidence enough of the fact a substantial portion of our community demands a response.
But the Rally for Change promoted in a campus-wide e-mail last night seems more an empty gesture than a substantive opportunity for real dialogue.
There is another reason that today’s events are, in part, unsatisfying. Students are encouraged not only to attend a march and rally, but to come to Cross Campus at 10 p.m. for a — vigil?
Discrimination is wrong, but a vigil in this situation is inappropriate. Past vigils have been held for the Virginia Tech massacre and Sept. 11; this is not the same.
Tonight’s plan in response to recent racist and homophobic vandalism on campus is an overreaction at best and a dangerous precedent to set at worst.
Racial tension on campus cannot be alleviated with a day of protest organized from the top down. Only an attitude change initiated by all breeds of students confronting the problem in real dialogue, together, will lead to resolution.