<p>Amanda - I’m a 56 year old parent - so what does age have to do with it? But, apparently I am the only 56 year old parent on this discussion board that takes exception to calling students “divisive” for calling attention to others’ privilege. Is it not the students right to call attention to others privilege?, and is it not just as much my right as yours to say that I find your comment, with lack of elaboration, divisive as well? Is it not OK to say that I take exception the throwaway end of your sentence, stating “all students of Oberlin are obviously privileged in some way”. I’m sorry, but I know Oberlin students too, and I know that not all of them are privileged. I suppose, however, we can chalk this disagreement up to the inadequacies of written communication, without the body language and the opportunity to clarify with continued spoken dialog the meaning and intent of what is written. So, my apologies if I misunderstood your meaning. You didn’t clarify much and your words could be misconstrued, as I said.</p>
<p>The voices that are most important to listen to are those of the students themselves:</p>
<p>[Classes</a> Cancelled for Reflection on Recent Events | Fearless and Loathing](<a href=“http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/2013/03/classes-cancelled-for-reflection-on-recent-events/#more-7416]Classes”>http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/2013/03/classes-cancelled-for-reflection-on-recent-events/#more-7416)</p>
<p>Please note the comment at the end of the article: the administration only decided to cancel classes after considerable pressure from the students of the Afrikan Heritage House: “It should be reported that the college very hesitantly cancelled classes and only after hours of pushing and demanding from those students in A-House. The administration did not take action. The community laid out their plans and demanded the administration listen to them; once the community threatened to blockade class, the college took their demands seriously.”</p>
<p>Re: implicit threats to life - one of the (many) hate crime incidents was a reported physical assault preceded by a race-based slur towards the victim. Another of the (many) hate crime incidents were pictures of KKK members in regalia, and a picture of a fist holding a noose with the caption “It’s not Illegal to be White … yet” with a link to a white supremacist website. And, just last night, students reported being harassed by motor vehicles. My daughter called me last night, very scared: “mom, people are posting on Facebook that they are being chased from the streets in cars”. (Today, the College security office posted official Clery warnings of these vehicular harassment events). Oh, and the latest poster to be displayed, with a swastika and the heading “filthy K***s”. Do you not think that people would feel physically unsafe, afraid of violence with such things happening? If you cannot wrap your brain around that, just try a little harder.</p>
<p>These are violent acts. These are implicit threats. Students and community members are afraid, some more so than others. The administration is taking action, as should be the case. The students are there to learn and practice the best ways to take responsible political action in all its various forms. But, the administration bears the ultimate responsibility for action, as they, not the students, are in the position of power to stop the perpetration of these criminal acts and protect the community from further harm.</p>
<p>Again, read the students voices themselves:</p>
<p><a href=“http://obiemicroaggressions.■■■■■■■■■■/[/url]”>http://obiemicroaggressions.■■■■■■■■■■/</a></p>
<p>Please, stand in solidarity against this violence. It is despicable. And, the administration does owe the students a strong, protective response and a full explanation of what concrete action steps they have taken thus far so that the students can feel safe, and of how they will continue ongoing swift action to protect the community from this violence.</p>