As we approach the close of this academic year, I want to discuss a challenge before our university.
We have recently had some revolting incidents on campus. Among them: an attempt to intimidate African-American student leaders by marking their doors with racially charged language; gay students recently spat upon; and someone ranting over the internet suggesting that Jewish students should go "home" as if home were Israel, and asserting that Nazi ideas weren't so bad after all.
These incidents leave a stain on all of us and degrade what is usually a wonderful place to live, study and work.
Even in the face of this hatred, there is reason for optimism. Virtually everyone on campus is repelled by this kind of vile behavior, and many are taking concrete steps to address it.
I was heartened to learn of an exercise in one class where every student identified an action s/he could personally take to address prejudice. Some pledged to speak up when they heard slurs. Others made commitments to spend time with individuals or groups of a different race.
A campus rally took place last week on the Allendale campus where members of our community attended in support of the victims of these incidents, and in support of better intercultural understanding.
Our new student orientation and new faculty orientation will be adjusted next fall to provide additional guidance about how to report and react to such incidents and to further clarify expectations here at Grand Valley. Programming will be strengthened throughout the year.
Campus safety has increased patrols and many student and administrative groups are finding specific steps they can take to prevent future episodes while also providing clear witness that these are aberrant behaviors that are both uncommon and unacceptable.
Through such steps, we as a community join the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who rejected the view that we were "tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism." By acts of justice, we bring light, and foster a stronger and more welcoming community.
Any healthy community must act justly. As it relates to these situations, the first requirement of justice is that those who engage in vandalism and assault be punished. They will be.
Justice also requires that we try to help all members of our community simply because they are members of our community. Justice demands that we reach out in solidarity to those who are harassed because of their race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or who are not given the full measure of respect and dignity that should be accorded to every person. Justice also demands that we help all of us -- faculty, staff and students -- learn ways to rise above ignorance and hate.
Speech is protected here at Grand Valley. Intimidation and vandalism are not.
Speech is protected, but elevated and civil speech is what we expect. We should confront those who use offensive and degrading speech with a call to a higher level. In the face of a slur, an angry counter-response is often our first natural urge. In many cases, even an angry response is better than silence. But we are better than that. We can learn from Rev. King here as well -- "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." When we are a beacon showing a better way to live, we are most effective in confronting the darkness around us.
I want to express my appreciation to all who are dedicating additional time to investigating these events, to those who have provided support to the victims, and to those who are finding concrete steps to make this a more welcoming university. Because we are a community that encompasses the strengths and weaknesses of the broader community, I do not believe we will ever fully extinguish the darkness of hatred, racism and bigotry here. But I am confident that when so many are finding specific ways to bring light to this campus, that the darkness will dramatically recede -- making us a better place to live, study and work.
Mark A. Murray, President
Grand Valley State University
