Letter to the Editor: Protests aim to bring dialogue, change

The caption under the front-page picture in Tuesday's Chronicle read, "Senior Jessie Rosario speaks at a protest about Sigma Chi's recent 'Viva Mexico' party Monday on the Chapel steps."  

However, the demonstration was not against the events of Sigma Chi's Party. It was "a demonstration for peace and justice: the fight to end ignorance and racism." We were standing upon the Chapel steps in order to get the message out to the Duke Community, that yes events happened that were bigoted, but that it has become a mere catalyst for greater systemic change we want at Duke.

One of the very first statements made in the pamphlet discusses our intentions, not as a way to lash out at the members of Sigma Chi, but to look into the problem of racism and ignorance on this campus.  In fact, it stated that "[the demonstration is] a call to our community to address the racial divide on this campus. In addition to dialogue, we believe that we must make our feelings known in a public and visible manner in order to bring more effective awareness to the general University body at--large."

Four main demands were made in the pamphlet. The demands called for recruitment, retention and support for Latino undergraduates, faculty and administrators, the establishment of a Latino studies academic undergraduate and graduate program; a full development and financial/institutional support for residential and academic programs that educate all students and finally; and reform of the adjudication systems so that the principles of the Duke Community Standard "of honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, and respect for others" can be effectively enforced in order to establish academic and residential environment free of intimidation.

Adianez Castillo