KKK costumes an issue at local campus

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January 30, 2008

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Wed Jan 30, 2008, 07:19 AM EST

PAUL SMITHS — Two students who dressed like Ku Klux Klan members at an off-campus Halloween party have sparked discussion of social justice at Paul Smith’s College.

College spokesman Ken Aaron said the costumes, which featured long white robes and pointed masks, were not intended in a spirit of hatred or as actions directed at any one person or group.

But the profound lack of sensitivity or awareness of how grossly inappropriate the act was has prompted college administration, staff and students to open discussion on diversity.

STUDENTS APOLOGETIC

When college administrators found out about the costumes worn to a private party last October, the two students were reprimanded.

“And that was swift,” said Aaron, who would not name the students.

“They both apologized profusely. They didn’t think about what they were doing, but it’s just as much of a problem that they didn’t think.

“But what they did raised some really salient points, which led us to realize, hey, we have to pay attention to this.”

With about 800 students, the private college is situated in the Adirondack forest, with little or no urban culture and very few people of color in the sparsely populated, rural towns nearby.

“A consensus emerged,” Aaron said, “that we have more work to be done here. We realized we still have an obligation to educate these students so they will understand how and why their actions were hurtful.”

A number of students expressed disdain at the Halloween costumes, Aaron said.

WOUND OPENED

The college sought the assistance of J.W. Wiley, director of the Center for Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion at Plattsburgh State.

Wiley moderated a “town meeting” at Paul Smith’s College Monday night.

Of the 500 people who attended, 400 were students, said Mike Harrington, chief student affairs officer at Paul Smith’s College.

“What we realized was that the incident last semester opened a wound that has been rumbling under the surface. There were issues and concern around the idea of whether or not our college community is practicing good social justice. We needed to open that door. This (insensitivity) is not going to go away by itself.”

The meeting lasted nearly three hours, Harrington said.

Aaron characterized the tone of the meeting as very respectful.

“People weren’t shouting; it was very productive. We realized issues of diversity are not a one-way-street. People of all races, cultures, creeds have their own ‘isms’, if you will.”

MOVING AHEAD

Harrington said students began to recognize differences in their college community.

“One of the things that came up — and we talked about race because it was right in front of us — (is) there are other differences here in gender, in socioeconomic class, in religion.

“We talked about how the forestry students might be characterized because of the way they look, because of what they wear — and the same for culinary students.”

But finding a way to provide sound education about social justice in an insular, primarily white community emerged as a larger goal.

“From here, we will decide how to move forward,” Harrington said, “whether it’s with a diversity initiative or developing (pluralism) programs at the college level in order to educate our students. We want them to be able to graduate as civically engaged members of society with an open mind to social justice and diversity.”

COLLEGE APPLAUDED

Wiley said the “town meeting” was an excellent start.

“I can tell you the type of thing that happened at Paul Smith’s College unfortunately happens on most college campuses,” he said Tuesday in a phone interview.

“I visit a lot of campuses, and while it’s not always people putting on clan attire, it’s a level of insensitivity that happens everywhere.

“The fact that the college administration is not only aware of it but is acting on it is a feather in their cap.”

Wiley said social-justice education can be fostered in a multi-faceted program that starts at student orientation.

“They have to professionally develop their faculty, challenge their students in terms of leadership to step up to roles that include notions of social justice,” Wiley said.

“Leadership is more than being appointed to a position; you have to take the time to raise the consciousness of people.

“Then the community needs to be invited into their discussion.

“It was an amazing moment last night. You could tell they (the college community) were invested in trying to address what they saw as a major concern. I think they should be very proud of themselves.

“Everybody stands to benefit from it; everybody stands to grow.”

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com