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8
University Daily Kansan
City/Area
Wednesday, August 20, 1986
Problem of racism still lurks around University
By Kristi Schroeder Staff writer
Some people find great humor in ethnic jokes, but for others, these jokes are extremely painful and offensive. This brand of humor, along with many other incidents, are examples of the kinds of racism that can be found on campus.
Caryl Smith, dean of student life and associate vice chancellor for student affairs, said her office worked with the offices of minority affairs and affirmative action to help prevent racism and deal with any problems that might arise on campus.
Smith said her office was in charge of the environment on campus, which included working with the other offices to keep the campus free of racism.
"But it's sad to report that every year there is some difficulty that appears to deal with racism," Smith said.
Some of the more common of those problems deal with someone who is insensitive about ethnic jokes, using certain examples in a class or calling a minority an offensive name, she said.
in May, attended both KU and Haskell Indian Junior College. She said racism was present to some extent on campus and could keep American Indians away from the University.
Venida Chenault, who graduated from KU
"They've seen some discrimination in town and with their experience at Haskell," Chenault said. "And they expect they will have it at KU."
Chenault said that she hadn't had much problem with racism because she wouldn't put up with discrimination and racism issues.
"I won't just stand there and take it," she said.
Chenault has dealt a lot with American Indians who have had problems with racism. Generally when a student approaches Chenault with a problem, she directs them to the office of affirmative action. But she always talks to the person first.
and history.
Chenault, like Smith, said a large part of the problems American Indians faced were the inconsiderate examples used by professors in classes. The most damaging and common problem of discrimination and racism stemmed from misinformation and ignorance about American Indian customs
Problems also arise from KU advisers who are not supportive of American Indians, Chenault said. Some tell the American Indians to drop out of school because they won't make it anyway.
But Chenault said conditions had improved since the days when Haskell students were only allowed in town on certain days.
Smith and people from the affirmative action and minority affairs offices form part of the Human Relations Committee, a University-sponsored organization.
One recent problem that the committee focused on was the terminology used for a certain type of portable radio. The term used was "ghetto blaster." Smith said this was offensive to many blacks because of the negative connotations to inner-city living.
"It's a direct slap in the face and a stereotype of blacks." she said.
Smith said a retailer in Lawrence used the term ghetto blasters in an advertisement. Her committee wrote him a letter informing him that he was offensive to some people.
The man stopped using the term and apologized, saying it was inadvertent. Smith
said this was a typical response. The people are sorry, but it happens continually anyway.
Many people don't intentionally use the words negatively. Smith said, but people need to be more aware of things like this.
The committee sponsored hearings last year on apartheid and divestment in South Africa. Smith said that the hearings were extremely educational and that she wished 24,000 people, about the size of the KU faculty and student body, could have attended them.
"We try to make a positive contribution," she said. "We're committed to continuing education."
Smith has been at KU since 1972. She said racism issues had not changed as much as she had thought they would.
The recent issues in South Africa have made people more aware of racism, she said. Increased awareness was part of the reason for the series of committees dealing with racism over the past several years.
"Ten years ago things were more active and overt," she said.
London Bonds, adviser to the Black Panhellenic Council, said racism wasn't a problem in the greek system. The separation
of white and black fraternities and sororites on campus is due more to the difference in the histories of the organizations than to any type of racism. She said the organizations had never reported any problems with racism.
White fraternities and sororites are larger and financed differently from the black organizations, Bonds said. They also have different rushes and other formal activities.
Bonds, who is also assistant director of the Organizations and Activities Center, said the black greek organizations were not limited to blacks. The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority has one white member.
On a national level, a lot of whites join the black organizations. Bonds said.
"People tend to join where their interests lie" she said.
So if a specific organization offers something a person enjoys, the person can usually join regardless of race. Bonds said.
JoAnne Hawkins, St. Louis senior and member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, said she had noticed more interest by blacks in the predominately white greek system in the past couple of years.
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