Hood forum on GOP display
Hood College leaders opted not to remove a questionable display put up by College Republicans this week, and is, instead, sponsoring a community discussion on Tuesday, Apr. 25.
“It was not an easy decision to come to, and it took us all day yesterday to get there,” Hood spokesperson Laurie Ward said Friday. “We didn’t want it to be a reactionary decision, but one that came from rational thought and not emotion.”
In a statement released Thursday night, Hood College President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., said she has asked staff to determine if the messages on the display board violated school policy, and if so, promises “appropriate sanctions." Read Chapdelaine’s entire statement here. Hood College's policy statement on harassment and discrimination is here.
Chapdelaine said that College Republicans were unwilling to take the display down, so student advocacy and diversity clubs were invited to organize a response for Tuesday’s forum. “I encourage all to let their voices be heard regarding how this language has made them feel. As an educational community, our best response is not with the act of taking down a display, but in how we move forward,” Chapdelaine said in the statement. [Chapdelaine pictured left, photo courtesy of Hood College.]
The display has messages about abortion as genocide, transgender people as mentally ill, and abortion as the number one killer of black babies. College Republicans President Chris Gardner said in a previous interview that his club wanted to spark discussion, but didn’t expect the level of negative response the display has received since going up Tuesday. [Photo, left, by Tim Sylvia, Hood College]
Gardner said Thursday that his group would not take the display down voluntarily, and would make an issue of stifling free speech if the college dismantled it. The display is scheduled to come down Tuesday, Apr. 25. Had the college taken it down, Ward said, that action would have brought more attention to the issue.
College leaders are looking at the fallout from the factious display that went up Tuesday on the second floor of the Whitaker Campus Center as a teachable moment. “What we are hoping to come out is learning that this is not just about freedom of speech, but that free speech is not without consequence,” Ward said.
This week, Ward said, the Hood College community has witnessed students rallying to support each other, particularly those who have been hurt by some of the language in the display. “Emotions are high, and we are hearing the loudest voices saying, ‘take it down’ or ‘leave it up,’” Ward said. “We hope that students know that all voices were heard. We are not ignoring those voices, but taking all of them into account to decide the best way to move forward.”
The community forum will take place at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 25 at Whitaker Commons.
