In light of the recent Princeton Review polls that declared Fairfield No. 1 in little class/race interaction, a number of video blogs confronting a number of topics on campus taped by Fairfield students appeared on Facebook last week.
Kevin Shaw ‘10 created a series of video blogs in order to show college students having fun, what college students experience, and the ever-lasting battle of diversity on campus. In the videos, Shaw singled out women and minorities here at the University.
According to a number of offended students, his crude sense of humor, chauvinistic comments about women, and profane commentary were inappropriate.
“It was unacceptable of a college student, especially one that is not a freshmen,” says Ashley De La Cruz ‘12.
William H. Johnson, director of Student Diversity Programs, quickly took action by setting up meetings with the senior after receiving word of Shaw’s improper tactics.
“At its foundation, I believe that this is a peer issue and not necessarily one for the administration to take action on (outside of the conversations that I have already had with the parties involved),” Johnson said in an e-mail.
“It is my desire that all of those involved or affected by this incident will find a way to resolve their differences amicably and find ways to work together.”
While some found his work to be out of line and derogatory, others have taken a liking to Shaw’s unique and comical perception of student life, and the issues of diversity that has placed the University at the top of the list of schools in the country with the least amount of diverse interaction.
“The majority of the student body loved the comedy,” Shaw said. “I received 373 friend requests in the last five days.”
According to Shaw, his videos have sparked diversity awareness while adding a comical twist to the topic. He believes that he has helped diversity clubs on campus reach the student body easier by making the concern a primary focus. Although it was not his intention to receive the attention of administrators due to the foul language he used in the videos, he feels that the entire experience was for the better.
“Administrators see my message behind the profanity and jokes and want to help,” Shaw said.
Shaw made an apology blog Friday afternoon directed towards the people he upset. He also encouraged those people to be a part of his movement.
“For the group [of students and faculty] that is offended, they now understand where I’m coming from, and want to work with me,” said Shaw in the blog. Despite his apologies, Kevin feels that he did not go over the top with the things he said, and also compared his strategy to that of a comedian.
Others still feel differently.
“In what way is saying that the minority females need to get their act together while giving shout outs to the ‘beautiful white Puerto Ricans with big butts’ discussing the issue of diversity awareness?” said Stefanie Robles ‘10.
“Same goes for video taping women asleep in their beds because they passed out from a party in another townhouse,” continued Robles.
Shaw is part of an allegedly unofficial fraternity on campus, known as the Distinguished Gentlemen, whose mission is to spread diversity within the school. Shaw said that the organization wants to show how important diversity is to them, as well as to bring the majority and the minority of students together like no one else has, while remaining unrecognized.
Shaw’s initiatives to spread diversity on the University campus have upset a number of people throughout the University community, but those involved hope that the situation will be addressed and ratified.
“In short, I felt that Kevin’s comments were disturbing, hurtful, and inappropriate,” said Johnson. “I hope that after my conversation with him he will be a leader in helping our community address this issue.”
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