Opinion | United against hate

In a joint column, President Daniele Struppa, Associate Professor Pete Simi and Associate Director of Community Support Justin Riley address the rise of white supremacist activity on campus

Justin Riley

Associate Director of Community Support and Development

Pete Simi

Associate Professor, Department of Sociology

Daniele Struppa President of Chapman

We live in very difficult times and those who understand the value of diversity, openness and inclusion face substantial challenges. The Chapman community is part of a larger context. Hate crime and hate-related incidents are rising across the United States. Too much of that hate is present on both K through 12 and college campuses.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, the number of white supremacist propaganda efforts on college campuses including racist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic and anti-LGBTQIA+ flyers, posters and banners nearly doubled from 2018 to 2019. Most experts agree this trend is likely to continue as one of the most polarizing presidential elections in recent years heats up. White supremacist groups rely on propaganda to spread fear and intimidate anyone who does not share their worldview. White supremacist groups may portray themselves as “all American,” but make no mistake – the values they represent are antithetical to America’s promise of a vibrant and diverse democracy.

Their tactics should not be a partisan issue; rather, all citizens should condemn their efforts to sow division across the country and lure us into the swamp of hate.

At Chapman, we believe in striving for open and transparent communication. We know this does not always happen. Sometimes legal barriers prevent transparent communication. Sometimes we simply fall short. When these lapses occur, our students feel vulnerable and question the authenticity of our commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse community where everyone can thrive. We want students, staff and faculty to know that we consider white supremacist propaganda on our campus a serious matter. While some may think “stickers” are innocuous, Chapman recognizes the pain these stickers cause in terms of contributing to an overall climate that may feel hostile and unwelcome. No student should feel the sharp edge of hostility and unwelcomeness because of their race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation and cognitive and/or physical ability.

Whether white supremacist propaganda or a student shouting vile racial and anti-gay slurs, these incidents present an “opportunity” to ask tough questions. Awareness of the larger national (and frankly international) context is important to prevent the idea that somehow Chapman is unique in terms of experiencing these problems. But the larger context provides little solace for addressing local concerns on our campus. Chapman administration, faculty and staff recognize the obligation of leadership and acknowledge the perception among some students that Chapman expects them to “solve” these problems on their own. But let us be clear: there is no quick fix for solving these problems. We may not like that or want to hear it, but it is an inconvenient truth that we must recognize.

To address these problems, we need a “whole community” approach. That is, all of us must be willing to take an oar if we want to move Chapman forward. We must be intentional and experimental. Do not be afraid to share your ideas. Now is the time to speak up.

Dialogue is essential for change to occur, but concrete actions speak volumes. Chapman understands this and is in varying stages of implementing new initiatives that will strengthen and enhance our community. The Africana Studies Minor will be available in fall 2020 for all students and we have allocated resources to further support the expansion of the Latinx and Latin American Studies Minor, LGBTQ Studies Minor, Women’s Studies Minor and Disability Studies Minor. The Cross-Cultural Center continues to provide an important space for students to explore and affirm their identities, while providing impactful educational opportunities through Heritage Month Programming and Cultural Graduation Ceremonies. The Office of Admission is moving to make SAT/ACT optional beginning with the fall class of 2021 as part of our commitment to create a more inclusive campus and remove the barrier preventing students who belong here from enrolling.

New commitments must be forged and a broader range of perspectives must have a voice. Chapman will remain vigilant in our opposition to the hate-filled efforts to divide our community but will also seek opportunities to affirm our university.