By Alexander Parks

Yet again, faculty, staff and students have to confront a cowardly, bigoted and hateful act that was displayed in public on the campus of The University of Alabama. It seems as if something of this nature (predominately centering around race, although one gets the sense that any marginalized group is at risk) pops up every few months with a formulaic and empty response by the campus administration.

There are a few letters to the editor of the paper and promises are made that we do not tolerate this type of hatred (confusing because we still are expected to tolerate it when it continues to occur).

I came to The University of Alabama for graduate school from Washington, D.C. and I find it difficult to explain to my friends and family why this continually occurs on our campus. Many of my loved ones refuse to come visit because they do not wish to inject any revenues into a university or area that publically disrespects and threatens any group while no consequences or policies are enacted to eradicate these behaviors.

I myself, after being here for over two years, am finding it increasingly embarrassing to go to national conferences or events and tell people that I attend The University of Alabama. Word gets around and our legacy extends further than many of us realize. If you think this might impact many students’ consideration for alumni donations or future support for the University, you would be correct.

This university has the potential to bring an end to our reputation for intolerance and the wherewithal to effectively establish policies to punish and end this type of hatred. This is a public university, after all.

When instances of this nature occurred at my undergraduate institution, there was dialogue, a student diversity board was established, there was shame – the issue was not simply swept under the rug.

Essentially, something tangible was done, and the administration did not stand behind empty emails that simply wagged a disapproving finger, hoping that would magically end the disruption.

We need to be proud of The University of Alabama. We should drop that name like it has importance when we attend conferences, and hope that our friends and family would want to come visit us in Tuscaloosa.

With all of the good things happening on campus and in our community, we need to begin demanding that change occur and policies are established that prevent these acts of hateful bigotry from continuing.

Alexander Parks is a doctoral student in curriculum & instruction.