Taking A Stand Against Racism
About 120 gather in candlelight vigil at GU to fight racist letters, threats sent to students
A multi-racial group of about 120 people marched in silence Thursday night at Gonzaga University to protest the latest flare-up of campus racism.
Students, a few faculty members, and Spokane residents gathered at the law school to express their anger over an incident last Friday, when two black law students received threatening letters laced with racial slurs.
The incident echoed what happened last spring, when four black law students were targeted with similar letters.
“The incidents are appalling and sickening,” said David Bauman, vice-president of the student Multi-cultural Law Caucus. “This underlines the need of American society to address racism.”
Student Kathy Irish marched with her 5-year-old son, William, so he could learn racism is wrong.
“I told him, ‘Someone did a bad thing, and we have to show people it’s bad,”’ Irish said. “He doesn’t understand now, but someday he will.”
Kathy Jensen brought her four children, who range from 5 to 12 years old, to show support.
Other marchers said they aren’t surprised at the recurring racism on campus.
“We knew something like this would happen again,” said Martina Whelshula, a former Indian education specialist for Gonzaga’s School of Education.
She said students have been asking for the school to recruit more minority students and faculty. “No one has been listening to them.”
After the hour-long candlelight vigil, several students gathered inside the Crosby Student Center to air frustrations. They criticized administrators for their slow response in dealing with racial problems.
Organizers said no administrators attended the march.
“If administration is so supportive, where are they now?” asked Edna Vallecillo, an undergraduate.
Vallecillo was one of many students who were outraged that the university didn’t publicize the march, organized by the Multi-cultural and Jewish law caucuses. Many didn’t find out about it until just before it started.
About 1,000 students marched last Spring in protest of the racist letters.
Minority students at Gonzaga say they are anxiously awaiting solutions. They want to see:
Required multi-cultural classes, such as Latino history
A civil rights center on campus
More scholarships for students of color
Discussions of civil rights and racial issues incorporated in the law school curriculum
Meanwhile, students say they’re trying to cope with hostility from white students. “Every day there are people who will give you that look like you don’t belong,” said student Amali Attygalla.