CAUTION: Racial slur in para. 2.
The semester has just started and already we are off to an unflattering start. Between the “fuck safe space” shirts during frosh week, the stabbings by the O-Train, and the alleged sexual assaults Sept. 2, there is no question as to why students are feeling less than safe on campus.
These recent events affect every student and are disheartening. That is why when I saw that someone in my residence building had created an event on the Lanark House Facebook group called “Lynch a Nigger Day” I decided that enough was enough.
On top of the rape culture and violence that is lingering on campus, you can now add racism and hate speech to the list.
My roommate is a black woman and I can’t even begin to understand how this has made her feel. It is not acceptable to feel unsafe on your own campus let alone in your own residence building. This mentality on campus needs to be dealt with immediately in order to prevent any more unfortunate incidents.
Along with the initial student-led protest that happened in the days following the “fuck safe space” controversy, the Graduate Students’ Association hosted a well attended panel discussion and town hall about building safer spaces. There is an obvious demand for increased safety on campus, but what is the administration doing about it?
After the Sept. 18 stabbings, Campus Safety failed to send out text messages to those who had opted into the emergency text service that warns students when a serious incident happens on campus. They made no comment about the event on their Twitter, Facebook, or website. While an email was sent to students after the fact, this was not good enough.
If Carleton communicated to students that the situation was under control, everyone on campus that day would have felt a lot safer. They handled the situation in the worst possible way by being silent on the matter, forcing students to rely on third-hand information.
The administration also has to do a much better job of educating students on how to create a safe space on campus—fighting against homophobia, sexism, racism, rape culture, and violence in their day to day lives. Mandatory workshops during academic orientation would be an ideal way to ensure that students are aware of the rules and the resources available to them such as Foot Patrol, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Centre, and Carleton’s Sexual Assault Support Services.
Although the administration has its role to play in making campus a safer space, it is ultimately up to the students. We as individuals have to take on the task of holding our fellow students accountable for their actions and words. It is up to each of us to refuse to tolerate any form of racism, homophobia, rape culture, sexism, hate speech, or violence.
It is our responsibility to make sure that Carleton is the best university that it can be.
