In response to outrage over photos posted on a student leader's Web site, the Black Caucus launched a platform of proposed additions to university policy meant to improve the racial climate at Penn State last night.
Groups offended by pictures found on College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia's Web site last week met in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall to discuss emotions surrounding hateful incidents on campus and present a list of expectations to the university.
Tiffanie Lewis, president of Black Caucus, sat on the panel of student leaders who oversaw the town hall meeting. She said minority groups have been looking for the support of administration for years, but their needs have not been met.
"Join us so we can remove hatred and injustice," she urged the crowd of about 100 cheering students, faculty and supporters.
Anesha Ali, vice president of Black Caucus, read from a list of demands, which began with a call for Battaglia's resignation. Other items on the list included mandatory diversity training for executive boards of all student organizations and the review of all student clubs, their Web sites and documents they make public. According to the demands, organizations in violation of diversity requirements would lose their group charters.
The document also called for a task force to review and penalize "students and faculty members who commit crimes of bias, support hate speech and ... the overall contentious climate which is a direct result of a lack of diversity education."
Jamie Ziegenfuss, political director of Allies, an alliance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight people, said his organization fully endorses the education of all people to prevent hate crimes from occurring.
"Unfortunately, we are not surprised [by the College Republicans' actions]," Zeigenfuss said. He said all people on campus should focus on forming a university that can say, "We Are... Without reservation or fear."
Renaye Brown, parliamentarian for Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, spoke as one of many representatives of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and said her sorority is supportive of any actions taken by governing bodies. She said her sorority, as well as others involved in last night's forum, hope to create a campus that will "accept and appreciate racial and sexual differences."
Ed Smith, secretary of Black Caucus, said members of College Republicans who said they are afraid and have been threatened by backlash about the pictures upset him. "It is very disrespectful that people are saying we are the bullies," Smith said. "It is very dehumanizing to us as members of the Black Caucus."
Osvaldo Lee, president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, responded. "Look at the four percent that we are. We are such a small number yet they're threatened by us," he said. "It is enough, more than enough, to make sure our needs are met."
