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St. Cloud State University
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SCSU needs center focusing on all cultures
By Leslie Andres
Published:
Monday, December 9, 2002
Leslie Andres -- Staff Essay
"No one is listening until you make a mistake." -- Anon.
SCSU used to be known as a party school. To some extent, it still has that reputation. These days, however, this university is known more as a school where bias and discrimination exist.
What about other schools? Is there any school out there that does not have bias or discrimination lurking in its shadows?
There is no denying that such evils exist in SCSU. However, in the 30 months or so that I have walked these grounds, I have not seen or heard any discrimination that I would not have expected in any other school. Can anyone honestly say that he or she is not biased toward anybody? Remember, the key word here is "honestly."
With the lawsuit that was settled last week with academics Arie Zmora, Geoffrey Tabakin and Laurinda Stryker, SCSU was again thrust into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Again we hear about the discrimination that plagues this campus. Again I say to you, show me a campus that doesn't have discrimination.
As this paper's editorial board stated in the previous issue, lawsuits should be the last resort. Truly, this was a last resort. The three did not have any choice but to file suit against the university, and I see nothing wrong with the settlement.
There is, however, one thing I have to say. Being a lawsuit brought on by anti-Semitic sentiments on campus, it is not surprising that one of the points in the settlement is the eventual establishment of a center focusing on Jewish culture. All well and good. I applaud that. What I would like to see, however, is a proper center set up that helps students, staff and faculty understand all the different cultures on campus, or even the world over.
Now, I'm no legal expert, so I don't know if the SCSU administration can set up such a center instead of a Jewish cultural center. Maybe Zmora, Tabakin and Stryker will have to give their consent before such a thing can happen. Obviously, I don't and can't speak for them, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind, in the interest of trying to create a warmer and more united campus community.
This multicultural center should have one or two, or even a team of people, for each culture. The reason why I see this as a better solution to a Jewish cultural center is that with a Jewish cultural center, only one culture is highlighted. There are many other reasons though. A one-stop center makes it easier for students, faculty and staff to learn various cultures.
One big reason for a multicultural center is that it would be fair to other cultures. Unless, of course, SCSU plans to have a center for each culture.
Whichever happens, it will come to naught if people do not change their attitudes. People need to want to learn from each other in order for change to occur. All the cultural centers in the world will help little if no one walks through their doors to learn.
This university's administrators can force its students, faculty and staff to learn about other cultures. They can require as many MGM credits as possible of students. They can demand that faculty and staff attend countless talks, seminars and discussions about diversity. All this will amount to absolutely nothing if people do not want to change their perspectives.
I cannot lay the full weight of the fault on the SCSU administration for the troubles we have on campus. As far as I can see, the administration has tried its best to wipe out discrimination. A daunting task indeed. The fault has to lie with the campus community.
I graduate this semester and I leave hoping that people on this campus open themselves up to learning all the different cultures.
"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself." -- Chinese proverb.
