Editorial | The fight for change
Illustrated by Kaz Fantone
Change is slow. It does not come overnight. It is not the result of one single action. It is not an instant shift that happens in the blink of an eye. It is gradual, steady. It doesn’t occur from the wave of a magic wand. Change occurs when we join together and make it happen. If we want it, we have to earn it.
Since the beginning of this semester – and since the beginning of this academic year – our campus has found itself caught in the midst of storm after storm, a never-ending cycle of controversies that leaves students, administration and faculty alike feeling drained. Believe us – we’re tired of it. But just because we’re tired doesn’t mean we can stop speaking out. Just because the same things keep happening doesn’t mean they have to.
The apathy on our campus is palpable. It may be exhausting and feel useless, but that lack of concern is only contributing to the problem. We’re exhausted by the constant stream of bad news and stories we don’t want to hear about. But just because they are unpleasant does not mean they don’t deserve our attention.
If we want to see change on our campus, we have to fight for it. Just saying that we want to see a transformation isn’t enough. Doing the bare minimum isn’t enough either – we shouldn’t be accustomed to remaining neutral. It shouldn’t be the standard to sit idly by, this behavior is not enough to enact lasting change.
Lots of students are frustrated with Chapman, yet when push comes to shove, many fail to act on their word. Take George W. Bush’s controversial visit on Oct. 9, 2019 for instance. Despite numerous students speaking against his attendance, roughly a dozen showed up to a planned protest. This isn’t enough. Students don’t think that they’re attendance will change anything, but they’re wrong. Had there have been more students, perhaps Chapman would have paid more attention.
And this weight, this responsibility should not be placed solely on the backs of minority students. As white students are the majority on campus, white students need to utilize their position to enforce lasting, sustainable change. For those of us who are too privileged to “care” about politics – take a hard look at what your fellow students are fighting for and try to support them.
If the administration wants to see actual change, they can continue working toward a university that is truly diverse and inclusive. Simply creating a Cross-Cultural Center and calling it a day isn’t enough; there needs to be more support and resources for students of all backgrounds.
There needs to be a more diverse range of faculty. Going through college without a single professor of color is an issue, an issue that fails to expose students to the diverse backgrounds of the world that we need to thrive. Hiring more diverse professors and funding more programs for minority students is a needed change that will produce tangible results.
If students want to see change, they need to go out and show their support, they need to fight for what they want. Everyone – regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. – must prove to the administration that they want to see a different campus, one that’s an accepting environment for all students – not just some students.
At the end of the day, if we want to see change, we have to work for it ourselves.