Brand addresses campus slurs

Doane College President Jonathan Brand expressed his disappointment with the recent string of crimes and other incidents on Doane’s campus in an e-mail he sent to students, faculty and staff Thursday morning.

In the e-mail, Brand addressed the fights in Butler Gym during the toga party, the use of a racial slur outside of the gym and a recent swastika drawing on a door in the Communications Building.

“They were pretty serious incidents,” Brand said. “We have to respect each other in our community. It cuts right to the heart of what we are as an institution.”

In his e-mail, Brand said the events did not represent Doane’s values.

“Both the physical violence as well as the racial slur and vandalism are simply unacceptable in our community,” he wrote in the e-mail. “At our core, Doane is a community of respect and care for one another. These types of behavior do not model our values and will be responded to according to our campus policies.”

Brand said encouraging the sense of community that Doane has was an important part of his e-mail.

“It (the community) is wrapped up in our history,” he said. “It’s why we are all here.”

Junior Billy Garver said he was glad Brand sent out the email to the Doane community.

“With all the stuff going on, we need to have the leader of the college speak out against it,” he said. “I hope people have respect for the president and for the college because what he said is true. We are a community.”

Junior Mindy Dymacek said she hadn’t heard about all of the incidents Brand mentioned in the e-mail, but she said the e-mail was a necessary measure so students and others would realize that there would be consequences for their actions.

“I don’t know that the e-mail will make students think more of their actions,” she said, “but if there are punishments, those might hinder the future actions of students.”

Brand said he hoped his e-mail would have an effect on students so that they may better understand their actions and how others may perceive them.

He asked anyone with any information about any of the incidents to contact the Safety Office.

2 comments

Micala Cruse

Wed Feb 10 2010 21:39

Personally I do not believe that an e-mail even scratches the surface of the severity of the issues at hand. I will say that it is a start. Absolutely more needs to be done. As a former Doane student, and a student of color, I am saddened by what seems like a pattern of hatred and bigotry on campus. When these acts of violence and violations of basic liberties occur; I would think that as leaders of Doane College more than e-mail would be necessary to restore the comfort of students who feel that their safety is at risk.

Lee Tasey

Mon Feb 8 2010 06:16

Good work, Jonathan. I'm also trying to reach students via religion symposiums. These events help to remove prejudices and stereotypes, especially religious ones. Now if only I could reach more Doane students via email...

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