I'm not sure how many students remember the "Crocker Sack" newsletter that used to fill the halls of first-year dorms. The title itself was especially hurtful since "crocker sacks" were the sacks that slaves used to carry as they picked cotton. It was a horribly offensive piece of literature that picked on women at Duke, people of color at Duke, etc.: The usual suspects.
One especially vile issue (and fortunately the last one to be published) described the physical features of several Marketplace employees and used racial and gender slurs to degrade them. The Crocker Sack was posted in the Marketplace so that the workers featured in its pages could see for themselves just what Duke students think of the people who serve us.
Disturbingly, the use of such offensive language and images has not been limited to ignorant freshman boys at Duke. This weekend was a sad reminder of the work that remains to be done to make Duke a true community. For those who think that a discussion of prejudiced language resigns us to the dark dungeons of the "PC Police," I would remind you that our country was founded upon the words of our Constitution. I would remind you that language is the way we communicate and the way we create our realities. We might have the freedom to say whatever we want, but if we ignore the power of language we ignore it at our peril.
On Friday afternoon, the Freeman Center held a Shabbat dinner entitled "Jew-B-Q." Instantly when I saw this I thought of the cremation of Jews and other peoples during the Holocaust. I called the Freeman Center to discuss the use of this title for their dinner and while they were sensitive to my concerns, I am not sure they realized the significance of Jewish people holding a Jew-B-Q. While some might argue that any group may degrade itself however it may desire, I am not sure that say, Eli Weisel, would appreciate the humor of calling a Shabbat dinner a Jew-B-Q.
Perhaps even more disturbing than the Freeman Center's Jew-B-Q on Friday was Sigma Chi's "Viva Mexico" party on Saturday. The flyers themselves were blatantly discriminatory. They had pictures of little green cards that said, "issued by Sigma Chi" and they had "EXPIRED" stamped over them. This obviously implies that all Latinos are undocumented immigrants. Or perhaps Sigma Chi merely meant to tell Latinos, especially workers, that they are not welcome members of our community. While the flyers alone were enough to disturb anyone, the party decorations were even more disgraceful. Members of Sigma Chi built a large "Border Control" station for the party. To many, "Border Control" signifies injury, rape and even death. Given that it is Latino Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day is coming up, Sigma Chi could have chosen to truly celebrate Latino culture. Instead, they held a racist party, complete with flyers and decorations that belittle and humiliate all Latinos.
For those of you who think anything should go at this University, I have a proposition for you. I've noticed that white frat guys have been largely left out of the non-PC fun lately and I wouldn't want them to feel excluded (even if that is a silly liberal concept). What if I threw a party called "Everything's All White." As you come in, you have to check all alcohol, coke, heroin and other substances at the door (don't worry, white frat guys never go to prison for that kind of thing). We could do a background check of all party goers to see just how many women at Duke you have assaulted or attempted to assault during your undergraduate career. We will also be implementing "Legacy Control" so that only those who got into Duke because their granddaddy gave lots of money will be let into the "Everything's All White" party. The only dancing allowed will be bouncing completely devoid of rhythm. The only conversation permitted will be phrases like "whatever dude." Of course, you have to act like you are The Man while you get down with your white legacy buds.
If that party wouldn't have been acceptable, why was the Viva Mexico party approved by the administration and attended by so many students? Why are Latinos being singled out for ridicule and humiliation? I challenge all members of the Duke community to ask these tough questions. Sticks and stones might be the only things that can break bones, but words break minds and hearts.
Bridget Newman is a Trinity junior. Her column appears every other Wednesday.
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