Frist panel discusses methods to combat intolerance and bias

Members of the University faculty, staff and student body met yesterday over lunch to discuss concerns about harassment and bias on campus.

The discussion, conducted in town hall meeting style in Multipurpose Room A in Frist Campus Center, consisted of personal anecdotes about discrimination as well as suggestions for what members of the University community can do to address the issue.

SHARE coordinator Thema Bryant-Davis, the discussion's moderator, said the goals of the meeting were "to raise our awareness of the experiences of harassment and bias on campus" and "to think collectively and strategically about how to improve our climate."

Three undergraduates shared stories of harassment based on sexual orientation, including Lee Conderacci '04, a straight ally and peer educator who had the word "FAG" painted on her door earlier this year.

Louisa Alexander '03 expressed hope that increased tolerance toward homosexuals and bisexuals would be accompanied by a greater understanding of those questioning their gender identities.

She urged the administration to consider creating a unisex or gender-neutral bathroom space on campus, allowing students questioning their own gender identity to "go about their daily business."

Discrimination against those students with disabilities was also a key topic in the discussion.

Students brought up how many buildings on campus, including the history building, are still not wheelchair accessible.

One graduate student, who did not identify himself, related his difficulties with repetitive stress disorder resulting from computer use. He said he had problems getting his professors and peers to communicate through means other than the computer.

Maria Flores-Mills, assistant dean of undergraduate students, noted that the enrollment of disabled and handicapped students has greatly increased over the last several years and that the University is taking many steps to try to accommodate them.

She also stressed the importance of peer tolerance for those with "invisible disabilities," or learning disorders, which can be particularly difficult to deal with in an academic atmosphere as competitive as that of the University.

Students and administration also voiced concern about harassment at the 'Street,' where — as one student put it — incidents tend to be ignored or forgotten "through the gauze that the stupor of alcohol draws over your eyes."

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Flores-Mills responded strongly. "Students are governed by the Rights, Rules and Responsibilities whether they're on this or that side of Washington Street," she said. This year, she said, all eating club officers underwent a training session to learn how to handle reports of sexual assault or harassment in their clubs.

The meeting ended with brainstorming solutions to address the issues raised. Poster campaigns and a greater initiative for educating freshmen about harassment and bias were the clearest solutions presented.

Public Safety Crime Prevention Specialist Barry Weiser said he hoped to see students keeping on the alert for harassment of themselves or their friends. "Harassment is an equal opportunity offender," he said.