First and foremost, I am not writing this article to in any way lessen or demean the plethora of negative feelings that have resulted from the Cousins incident.
Part of me understands the desire to catch and punish the person or persons who hanged the black doll in Cousins Studio Theater in early March. This act, no matter what its intent or motivation, violated our community's sense of propriety and its long-held, if sometimes unattained ideal of mutual respect.
I had the strangest experience the other day. While I was stretching in the gazebo, a lonely duck paddled through the inactive lake.
In the past few years at the University of Richmond, an average of 26 students each year went to CAPS to deal with grief.
One of the most eventful precursors to the Beijing Olympics has been the relay of the Olympic torch.
The University of Richmond, pending completion of the Westhampton College Deanery addition, may have the highest amount of "study space" per capita in the country. Of course, it makes perfect sense; you don't become an Ivy League school with beanbag chairs.
I began composing these thoughts on April 4, the 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Do Richmond students care about the environment as much as our president does? On Nov. 13, 2007, President Ayers signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Since then, the president announced environmental stewardship to be a priority on campus and has followed this pronouncement with actions: D-Hall's certification as a Virginia Green Restaurant, a commitment to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificated Silver certified construction projects, the pursuit of a program that would allow SpiderCards to be used on the GRTC public transportation system and the Eco-Spider Challenge to promote sustainability on campus.
President Edward Ayers is preparing to lead this university at a time when it's rapidly evolving.
To the person who dressed in blackface for Halloween this past weekend: You are not funny. You are not clever. You are ignorant. You represent an image of African Americans that was popularized during the 1700s.
This Homecoming Weekend promises to be as strange as it will be memorable, because those who were my peers just a few months ago will be returning to campus as members of that distant and ever-growing faction that is "alumni." And sadly, if all goes according to plan, I will reluctantly be initiated into that same group about six months from now.
Dear Administration, Faculty, Staff and Students: I am writing this letter to address some concerns about an incident which occurred this past weekend, which I feel that we, as members of the University of Richmond community, need to address as a collective.
MADRID ? After being here for about 2 1/2 months, there are very few things that still trigger that little feeling of homesickness from time to time.
Before heading abroad this past spring, I had an extended winter break waiting for my semester to begin.
I come from a big family with upwards of 18 aunts and uncles and face a painful inquiry into my personal life every time we get together.
Blackface. It's the "issue du jour" and it's on everyone's minds. Was it wrong for that student to choose a costume from a performance style steeped in racism?
I am hopeful. A few weeks ago I read an article in The Collegian that someone wrote about the magic of 'Crankin dat' soulja boy,' a song played at an apartment party that managed to bring people of all races together for four minutes of laughing, dancing and "Superman-ing." I was there for that party, and to find that other people had noticed that moment of brief but fantastic unity truly made me feel as though we were making progress for the race relations of this campus. I am hopeful. Last week I went to a SALSA event in the Alice Haynes Room, thinking it would probably solely consist of students of Spanish or Latino descent.
In 2005, if someone had asked me to pick a theme for the year, my one word response would have been water. Not to belittle other tragic events in 2005, but it was a marked year from the start.
Before I go any further let me say I was not on campus this weekend to experience the University of Richmond Halloween or see any of the creative costumes put together by our "intellectual risk takers." Nonetheless, I would place a bet on there being a "risk taker," somewhere on this campus, that did dress up like a Mexican gangster, American Indian or terrorist (intended to be of Muslim descent). I've seen these impersonators dress up in sombreros, head dresses and black and white scarves before, so I know I am not making this up.
To the University of Richmond student body, faculty, staff and administrators: It is up to each and every one of us to ensure that something like this never happens again.
