SPAT OUT
Students respond to recent campus racism at an emotional event Monday night.
David Cowardin
Issue date: 4/28/10 Section: News
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Brave individuals stood before the crowd to share stories of race and oppression. Some apologized for not standing up for the university's minority population, some shared personal stories of oppression, some recited poetry written by black activists, but everyone advocated for a change in the way UMD and its students respond to racism. Paul Deputy, a UMD College of Education dean, was one of them.
"There is a delicate balance between an administrator and an activist and you have to hold that delicate balance, but I am moving along the continuum toward activist," Deputy said. "I don't want my grandchild, who will be born in September to see the hate I've seen."
SPAT-Students Promoting Awareness through Teaching-saw the largest turnout of their four similar events since their formation in 2006. The event opened by letting the crowd share what was on their mind and what "grinds your gears."
Even though UMD reported zero hate crimes over the past academic year, one student asked the crowd to raise their hand if they have been on the receiving end of a hate crime. Nearly everyone in the room raised their hand.
The event then shifted to discussion on the most recently reported incident of racism, which took place in a campus apartment study lounge two weeks ago. The incident included two white female students and a black female student. The two white students engaged in a conversation on the social networking system Facebook that lasted for twenty minutes and included comments like "ewww a obabacare is in the room, i feel dirty, and unsafe. keep a eye on all of your valuables and dont make direct eye contact.... i just threw up in my mouth right now....," and "were two white girls.. she already has her "nigga" instinct to kill us and use us to her pleasure..."
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