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April 22, 2008
Sports
Vol. 80 Issue #27
AnchoR
The The
Hate Crimes on Campus Rainbow Banner Vandalized a Fourth Time; Hateful Gestures Appear Around Campus By Barry Nickerson Anchor Editor The series of attacks on RIC Rainbow Alliance’s advertising campaigns has continued since two weeks ago. The banner hanging in Donovan Dining Center that advertises the second half of Queer Month disappeared for the fourth time. Besides the banner, hateful language has appeared in several places on the campus. One such place is a stairwell in the western wing of Gaige Hall, where “Fags suck” was chalked to the wall. Another example is a restroom in Craig-Lee Hall that now has swastikas scribbled on the stalls. Rainbow Alliance members Aaron Buckley, sophomore, and President Jenn Vieira spoke to Student Community Government Parliament on Wednesday night about the recent vandalisms. “I talked to Parliament about how I feel unsafe on campus and I don’t see the administration actively trying to protect me and make me feel safe on this campus,” said Buckley. Buckley said that Student Parliament needs to “actively denounce this kind of behavior, because an attack on one student group is an attack against all and an attack against Parliament itself.”
Parliament unanimously four occasions. Acts of intoler- what occurred. Baptista said that he has not passed a resolution to send a ance, hatred and vandalism have message to the student body in no place in this community, and experienced any situations on the form of yet another banner in Rhode Island College condemns campus that make him feel unsafe due to his race, but that he such behavior,” said the email. Donovan. Sophomore Justin Baptista, a believes homophobia has “bePresident of SCG, Inc. Nicholas Lima said that he is member of Rainbow Alliance come more subtle, more internal” “deeply concerned about the who identifies as African-Ameri- because “if a student acted out growing number of students at can, said that he thinks it is sus- with homophobia, they would that the banner get in trouble.” RIC who are fearful of simply picious Freshman walking from one Dee Tavolaro, a building to the Secondary Educanext.” The banner has a rainbow pattern in the tion major and “A major issue background; it states: “Student Parliament member of Rainfor next semester’s condemns the hateful acts perpetrated against bow Alliance, said Parliament will be that she “gets a lot to encourage the the RIC Rainbow Alliance. An attack on one of weird looks” College Administrastudent group is an attack against us all. We around the Coltion to take a proacwill stand together to ensure that no student, lege. tive stance against “I’ve been acts which make club, or organization lives in fear of called a dyke and students feel unintolerance and hate. Wow as the Student fag on campus,” comfortable or Body look forward to the responsible party or said Tavolaro. She frightened on campus,” said Lima. parties being found and justice served. Passed said this has happened at least In response to Unanimously by Parliament on April 16, 2008.” three times this sethe vandalisms, an mester. email from Dr. Scott Tavolaro said Kane, Dean of Students, was sent to all students, disappeared with nobody catch- that during the day she feels safe, but “as soon as classes start to condemning the actions against ing the perpetrator. “It clearly shows a method,” end, I don’t feel comfortable Rainbow Alliance. “Removing or vandalizing said Baptista. “I find it suspi- walking alone on campus.” “The big concern is that a lot college sponsored banners or cious that the banner was taken other college property is a viola- down four times but no one has of us do not feel safe on campus,” tion of College policy. As re- come forward.” Baptista said said Tavolaro. “What if someone ported in our student newspaper, that there were either witnesses goes from speech to action?” A freshman who was not The Anchor, banners promoting who saw what happened to the Queer Month events have been banner that remained silent out identified has been called a stolen or vandalized on at least of fear, or who were fine with “dyke-ho” while walking near
Climate Awareness Day Kellye Martin Anchor Editor and member of the Planning Committee for Climate Awareness Day RIC’s first Climate Awareness Day was held on Wednesday April 16th. The all-day event sponsored by the RIC Geography Program, The Rhode Island Geography Alliance, and the Office of the Assistant VP for Academic Affairs took place in and around Gaige Hall, and was attended by students and faculty. The purpose of Climate Awareness Day was to promote environmental awareness as well as to connect the field of geography to other fields such as education, literature, and science. Outside on the quad, passersby could stop and learn about the Toyota Prius and Camry Hybrid, as being demonstrated by FOX Toyota of East Providence. There was also a presentation by Nat Harris of Newport Biodiesel, LLC, that ended with a demonstration on the quad of a Ford F350 Heavy Duty that ran on biodeisel. Other presentations given during Awareness Day included a Google Earth demonstration, a GIS workshop, a presentation on the disappearing Pacific island of Tuvalu, a presentation from Providence Emergency Management, a Weather Channel Weather
Classroom presentation Forcast Earth: The Current Effects of Climate Change, CNN Classroom: Broken Government Scorched Earth, and a discussion about the Human Element of Global Warming as led by RIC’s own Dr. Joseph Zornado, referencing his book 2050 Gods of Little Earth. Attendees could also have their picture taken with a giant inflatable Earth, and watch or participate in a Jeopardy style Geography Bowl. The Geography Bowl started
with a written test to narrow the contestants down to 3 finalists, which consisted of one Geography student, one teacher, and also the winner of the Rhode Island state National Geographic Geography Bee. Following the Geography Bowl was a lecture about Global Warming by a presenter who had trained with Vice President Al Gore.
Students view environmentally friendly vehicles. Anchor photo by Mike Shiel.
Gaige Hall. People have looked at her and asked, “What is that?” to her friends. “It’s ridiculous. It shouldn’t be happening,” said Tavolaro. “I think part of terrorism is letting someone control your life through fear. Tavolaro said that this is “a very specific version of terrorism.” However, Tavolaro feels that RIC is doing a lot of things right when it comes to diversity and awareness of minority groups. “The fact that we have groups for the underrepresented students is that awareness,” said Tavolaro. Tavolaro said that for the most part, there is a lot of awareness on campus. “I haven’t heard of anyone being beaten up on our campus. You hear that happens a lot” at other schools, she said. “We don’t have everything yet,” said Tavolaro. “But we’re getting there. Sometimes it’s hard, but we all get through it together.” If you know what happened to Rainbow’s banners or any of the other hateful graffiti, Dr. Scott Kane’s email contains contact information for the Department of Safety and Security. Please contact ccote@ric.edu or call (401) 456-8201.
Parliament Acts to Oppose Hatred on Campus By Aaron Buckley Anchor Staff Student Parliament convened last Wednesday to address, among a number of bylaw changes, the Rainbow Alliance’s troubles with vandalized banners and flag poles. April is Queer Month at Rhode Island College, and to celebrate, Rainbow is running a gauntlet of events from April 3rd to the 30th. Readers may recall learning about the vandalism of Rainbow’s advertising banners throughout the last few weeks in the Donovan. It took four consecutive attacks until the banners found the attention of the school administration and Student Community Government. At Parliament’s weekly meeting, the body vowed to oppose the blatant discrimination by select members of the college community against Rainbow and by proxy all of its member organizations. Scott Kane (Dean of Students) and Gary Penfield (Vice President of Academic Affairs) both pledged the support of the college administration. Parliament also mulled over the issue of flag poles. Back in March, Rainbow had requested permission from the college to have a rainbow flag hung from one of the flag poles in our quad,
in front of the Murray Center. The administration denied the request, citing an ‘administrative decision’. When the verdict was appealed, a college official again denied access to the flag pole. At a meeting, Rainbow was told that the flag was a symbol of racial diversity, not of the queer community. When challenged, the “cost of paying labor” to raise and lower the flag was raised. Challenged again, the administration complained that if the Rainbow Alliance were allowed to fly a flag, every student group would request the same right. Parliament deliberated over these issues and is considering the purchase and placement of several flag poles behind the Student Union, to be used by SCG and the other student organizations to display flags to advertise events and important holidays and celebrations. If RIC already has flag poles in the quad, our public space as students, then why does the responsibility fall on SCG to purchase additional poles? A review of the United States Flag Code shows that, as long as a student organization’s flag does not fly on level with the US flag, and it flies under the State of Rhode Island’s flag, the college would be breaking no guidelines.