[1477] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: Message from President Vest
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (John Belcher)
Mon Oct 6 14:34:44 2003
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 09:42:59 -0000
Reply-To: jwb@space.mit.edu
From: John Belcher <jbelcher@CECI.MIT.EDU>
To: MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: <AAE12340-F7AB-11D7-8EFB-003065CC8DA4@uchicago.edu>
it means chuck vest is really offended.
John W. Belcher
Professor of Physics
37-695 MIT 77 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge MA 02139
email: jwb@space.mit.edu
phone: 617-253-4285
url: http://web.mit.edu/jbelcher/www
-----Original Message-----
From: Talk about MIT, for MIT, by MIT. [mailto:MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU]On
Behalf Of Roger Ford
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 3:18 AM
To: MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU
Subject: Fwd: Message from President Vest
"MIT's administrative and student governance systems will deal swiftly
and fairly with those responsible for this event." I wonder what that
means.
rf
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "President's Office" <kdk@MIT.EDU>
> Date: Sun Oct 5, 2003 10:04:15 PM America/Chicago
> To: ua-announce@mit.edu, ua-president@mit.edu, ua-cocomm@mit.edu,
> ifc-exec@mit.edu, asa-exec@mit.edu, dormcon@mit.edu,
> panhel-council@mit.edu, tutors@mit.edu, gsc-excomm@mit.edu,
> the-dome@mit.edu, racerel@mit.edu, leaders02@mit.edu, > leaders03@mit.e=
du
> Subject: Message from President Vest
>
> Please post or forward the following message from President Vest.
>
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> October 5, 2003
>
> Thursday evening a small group of MIT students held what they termed a
> "Ghetto Party" in their residence hall.=A0 This event was advertised in
> advance by an e-mail message that I have read and find to be
> outrageous and mean spirited in its derogatory references to poor
> people and its overt use of racial epithet and negative stereotyping.=A0
>
> Our community draws strength and joy from its diversity in many
> dimensions, including that of race.=A0 We have a broad tolerance for
> speech, humor and thought.=A0 But unthinking and demeaning behavior suc=
h
> as this party and its advertising can invade our collective soul and
> destroy our ability to pursue our mission of learning, growth and
> leadership.=A0 Students on this campus, whether minority or majority,
> and whether directly involved or not, should not be subjected to such
> an environment.
>
> I will be further troubled if, as a preliminary investigation
> indicates, it turns out that no one who read the invitation pointed
> out to their peers how hateful and harmful its language and racial
> implications were.=A0 Passivity amplifies the mean-spirited actions of
> others.
>
> Race in America remains a troubling matter, but we look to the
> leadership and good will of talented young men and women who are
> privileged to be part of great institutions like MIT to move us beyond
> this and improve our world.=A0 It is sad and disappointing when even a
> few choose to take the opposite path.
>
> MIT's administrative and student governance systems will deal swiftly
> and fairly with those responsible for this event.=A0 But we all must
> move equally swiftly to pull together, to learn the lessons of this
> matter, and to work together in mutual respect and common purpose to
> live up to our potential as friends, colleagues and leaders.
>
> --Charles M. Vest
>
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