Martin O'Sullivan/The Mirror
Black History month began this year with a shocking reminder of the prejudice and racism that many have worked so hard to combat.
On the morning of Feb. 1, a Public Safety officer discovered that a plaque located in the north entrance of Claver Hall had been vandalized, according to University officials. An unknown culprit carved racial slurs and anti-Semitic symbols onto the plaque, which celebrates the life and work of Jesuit missionary St. Peter Claver.
“Someone etched into the plaque the word ‘nigger’ and also etched swastika in there,” said Will Johnson, director of student diversity programs and associate dean of students. “There is a reference to the work St. Peter Claver did in terms of working with slaves, and above that someone etched in ‘nig’ right next to the term slave.”
In an email to the student body, Dean of Students Karen Donoghue asserted that “we have no reason to believe at this time that the acts were anything more than thoughtless, cowardly, juvenile, and ignorant acts.”
Although Johnson dubbed it “an isolated incident,” he stressed that this is “certainly not the first that has happened in recent times here at Fairfield.”
Specifically, Johnson cited a similar event last semester, in which an anonymous offender used shaving cream to spell out the same racial slur in a Jogues Hall bathroom. He admitted that although some have cited certain similarities between the natures of the offenses, no definite link has been made between the two occurrences.
“I’ve heard from many individuals that there’s sort of this undercurrent here of prejudice and bias and racism and bigotry,” said Johnson. “But it goes under the current because no one ever comes out and speaks about it, or they feel that if they do that they could become a target.”
However, not all students agree. “I’ve never felt discriminated here at Fairfield ever,” said Gregory Chase ‘13, a student of Honduran descent. “Just hearing like something like that happened is a rare incident.”
On Feb. 6, Claver Hall residents were required to attend a mandatory discussion concerning these recent occurrences. Residents were assured that the meeting was not meant as a punishment, since the culprit could potentially be a non-student, let alone a resident of a different hall. Instead, students were informed that the point of the gathering was to discuss feelings and reactions to the event as a community.
“At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter that it happened in our building, but that it happened on our campus,” said Meredith Smith, Area Coordinator of the Village. In an interview with The Mirror, she added, “I wish it didn’t take an incident for students to have a conversation about race and gender and injustice in general.”
“Maybe they’re just trying to start from small,” said Claver resident Kate Jameson ‘14 in regard to the Claver gathering. “I think it’s good they’re starting to do something. They just happened to start with us.”
Although several students spoke out at the Claver Hall meeting, a majority of students kept silent. When asked to comment on this, Director of Residential Life Ophelie Rowe-Allen said, “It made me think, ‘Are we creating that space for them? Is Fairfield providing that space where their students are comfortable speaking out?’ Not because of their race, but because of their cause and what they believe in.”
According to Rowe-Allen, a campus-wide collaboration between staff is being instituted to reach students at a more “intimate level.” Parties involved include the President’s Institutional and Diversity Council, the Student Diversity Office, the Office for Mission and Identity Programs as well as several area coordinators.
Students’ responses to this apparent racism, both at the Claver community meeting and on campus in general, have been consistent in their disdain for the nature of the vandalism.
“People are saying the kid was probably drunk or wasted or whatever, but it still doesn’t matter. You don’t go around drawing a swastika,” said Andrew Kringas ‘14.”It’s not taken too kindly at a Jesuit residence, never mind in any college.”
Although generally consistent, opinions still varied as to the motivation for the etchings. “I always feel like incidents like these are alcohol related,” said Jordan Freeman ‘13. “We don’t have a race problem. We have an alcohol problem … but it’s dumb that you would actually carry through with something like this.”
When asked for a direct message to students, Smith responded: “Don’t be afraid to step on some eggshells … Silence can perceived as apathy, and you can be the most caring person, but if you don’t speak up or speak out or write a letter or report anonymously, you’re blindly excepting something that you may not stand for. Don’t be silent.”
Fellow area coordinator Amarildo Barbosa shared, “I understand it’s going to be an uncomfortable conversation for a lot people, but that doesn’t mean it’s a conversation they should be avoiding.”
Rowe-Allen shared similar sentiments: “For me, it’s for students to see the word social justice as an action oriented word.”
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