Controversial, racially motivated postings on the Daily Jolt and Facebook were the reason for Thursday's University Diversity forum, that examined race relations on campus.
About 150 students from American, Howard, Georgetown and George Washington University attended the two-and-a-half hour forum in the Tavern. The event featured an eight-person panel of representatives from AU campus clubs, offices and organizations, including Student Government President Ashley Mushnick and Vice President of Campus Life Gary Wright.
Some students went to the forum in reaction to racially motivated comments made in a Jan. 19 Daily Jolt posting titled "A Very Black Week." The posting featured a paragraph about various events going on during the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The last sentence of the post read, "We're pretty sure things will be back to normal next week."
Paul Perry, the Daily Jolt's head editor, created the post. He said it was a joke but understood how it could offend people.
"I want to apologize publicly for that misunderstanding," said Perry, a senior in the School of Public Affairs.
Students also came in response to a Facebook posting of a racially derogatory comment underneath a photograph that was tagged on the University Diversity event page. The controversial comment resulted in an ongoing dialogue between students about racism and diversity.
The photograph features Qui-Juan Jones, an African-American and Puerto Rican junior in the Kogod School of Business, with nine female students who appear to be Caucasian.
A comment calling the women in the picture "white hoes" was posted below the picture, resulting in over 130 comments below the photograph. Paige Gillian Erkins, an African -American female and senior in the School of International Service, posted the controversial comment.
"Although I am sorry people felt offended by my comments, I won't apologize for saying what I said because I stand by my words and actions, taking responsibility for all things I do," Erkins said.
Brandon Sturdivant, a senior in SPA put the event together.
"It made me think we need to have this dialogue with everyone on campus," Sturdivant said.
Professor Celine Pascale moderated the event, starting the discussion by asking the audience why they came.
"I'm here because I've been called a racist," said one female audience member from AU. "I think it's such a nervous issue. ... We're afraid to talk about [race] because we're afraid to be called a racist."
Panelists and students discussed their opinions on diversity and the issues surrounding it on campus.
Brittany Thompson, an African-American student and a junior in the School of Communication, explained the racial segregation on campus.
"We hang out with people who look like us. It's an issue of being in your comfort zone," Thompson said.
Chad Robinson, a panelist representing Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, talked about the racial segregation at AU in terms of the audience.
"How did we get into this situation?" Robinson said. "The evidence is right in front of your face."
At that point, Robinson encouraged audience members to sit next to people that were not of the same race, so the students moved around the room to get into a different seat.
"Every five years we have a gathering like this," Wright said. "The university is constantly trying to address the diversity issue."
One comment on diversity was received with loud applause.
"Taking responsibility to understand what it means to be black, gay, Hispanic ... is what makes you diverse," said Issam Khoury, resident director of Letts Hall.
University Diversity was sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., Concerned Black Men, Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.
