University of Virginia Library

Donn Kessler

Racism At The University

With the growing number of
black students at the University, it
has become apparent that there are
two aspects of racism in
Charlottesville. One aspect is the
more pervasive and more
frustrating. That is the silent racism
that greets blacks as they enter the
University. It is the silence of other
students towards blacks as they
pass each other in the halls. It is the
ignoring of black culture both in
the curriculum and in
extra-curricular activities. It is
questionable if this "institutional
racism" that is so pervasive here can
ever be destroyed. At least it is
impossible to do overnight. Only by
creating a constant tension and
never letting up can we ever hope
to change the racist side of the
University (and of ourselves) and
begin to allow black students to
feel welcome in our community.

Harassment

But there is a second aspect to
racism. This aspect is the obvious
acts of bigotry and prejudice. It is
the harassment of black students by
University and city police. It is the
waving of a Confederate flag
despite one's knowledge of that
symbol's connotative meaning to
blacks and indeed, to many whites.
It is the ejection of black students
from fraternity parties.

There are some members of the
community that will point out that
the University has already
attempted to deal with this aspect
of racism. After all, they say, the
alleged harassment of blacks by
University police was investigated
and found to be fallacious. And the
incident at a fraternity was, in some
student's opinions, handled
adequately by a slap on the wrist to
the fraternity involved.

But there is something
inherently unjust in these
procedures. Take a good look at the
methods of investigation and
punishment. Who investigated and
judged the alleged harassment of
blacks by the Department of
Security? It was the Director of
Security, Wad Bromwell. And
what body investigated, judged and
punished an incident of blatant
racism in a fraternity? The
Inter-Fraternity-Council. Indeed, it
is the worst type of injustice to
allow accused persons or groups to
investigate, judge, and even punish
themselves. Even if these
investigations and punishments
were fair, who would believe it?
Certainly not the black students.
And who can blame them when
after an incident at a fraternity
house, the house is judged guilty
by other fraternities and then only
made to apologize, close one rush
party, and perform one community
service project.

It would seem that the purpose
in allowing the Security
Department to investigate
complains made against it and in
allowing the IFC to investigate and
punish its own members is in the
interest of autonomy. But in this
case, autonomy must take
second-place to the interest of
promoting understanding and trust
in Mr. Jefferson's community.

To attain this goal of
understanding, it is necessary to
establish an impartial board of
investigators composed of an equal
number of administrators, faculty
members and students. It is this
body which should have the
authority to investigate reported
incidents of racism if just and
impartial decisions are to be
reached and, just as important, if
these decisions are to be perceived
as just.

Teeth Of Sanctions

This investigative board must
have more power than just deciding
upon the guilt or innocence of
parties involved in racial incidents.
It must be given the teeth of
sanction. The board will do little
good if it is restricted to
recommending reforms to a guilty
party. We do not need another
important committee but rather a
board of justice that can impose
sanctions and deter blatant acts of
prejudice on the Grounds.

There will be some who will
object to the establishment of such
a board saying that it could never
understand certain situations as in
fraternity rush or in the day-to-day
work of Security. There will be
others who will oppose the creation
of the board in the name of
preserving autonomy for the
various departments of the
University and for the different
groups on the Grounds.

But the time for autonomy is
over. The days of half-finished
investigations and lack-luster
reforms are gone. No longer will
black students or many white
students go to the IFC or to the
Department of Security or to the
President. In the name of justice,
we must create a board to
investigate alleged incidents of
racism and to punish those it finds
guilty. Only impartial hearings
made by representatives of the
entire University community and
backed by the power to act
decisively will help to solve this
aspect of racism that confronts us
all.