To the Editor:
The sense of security that members of the Black Community have at Tufts is being threatened by the voice of The Primary Source in its last issue, with a Christmas Carol, "Oh, Come, All Ye Black Folk." For years, we have been voicing our opposition to some of the views of this publication and our cries have fallen onto the deaf ears of the administration.
Now we are reaching through the impermeable sphere that has protected Tufts by making the public knowledgeable of this occurrence in hopes that it will pressure the administration to finally take the action we have been demanding for so long.
One of the many questions that arose after reading this article is: what has the Tufts Black community or any minority community for that matter (LGBT, Feminist, etc.), done to deserve the hostility and victimization that this publication is producing as a representation of a "monolithic voice," the voice of the Tufts Conservative body.
Based on moral grounds, no one should be subject to slander without having the opportunity to respond to it.
We understand that freedom of speech is a right that is highly respected on college and university campuses, but should these views be funded by the student activities fees that we are all mandated to pay as matriculating students of the university? Additionally, it is contradictory to the mission statement of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO) at Tufts University, which states: "OEO is guided by the Universities commitment to and desire for a truly integrated, interactive, productive, successful, diverse student, faculty, and staff body." This poem represents none of the stated objectives of OEO.
For positive progression to begin on Tufts campus between members of the student body, there needs to be a statement of repudiation from President Bacow along with the commitment of Tufts University to make this institution a safe and diverse environment.
Also, on the morning of Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, representatives from the black community will meet with the administration to discuss a future course of action regarding this publication.
This is the concern of many black students on the campus of Tufts University.
Sincerely,Janelle Hatch, seniorOnika Williams, senior
