In Praise of Sisterhood
Thank you for the article in the Winter 2007–08 Denison Magazine about Chi Omega. I knew that the sorority had long ago vanished from the Denison campus, but I knew nothing of this history. I was a member of Chi Omega from 1947 until I graduated in 1951. During the 1960s, when I supported the struggle for civil rights that was taking place in our country, I realized that I was a member of an organization that would deny people rights based on skin color. So I wrote to the national headquarters of Chi Omega and severed affiliation as a protest. Since that time I have been “out of the loop” and knew nothing about my old sorority’s struggle on the Denison campus. I applaud these young women for the stand they took, and I am grateful that the Denison administration also backed their stand against discrimination.
- Lyn Knapp ’51 Annandale, Virginia
I cannot help but respond the the article in the current Denison Magazine regarding the clash between Denison’s Chi Omega sorority chapter and the national office over the pledging of a “negro woman.”
At one point during my years as a Chi Omega at Denison (1953-57), a pledge questioned the discriminatory requirements of religious practices and racial identity. At the time, I was appalled to realize that I had been ignorant of this discrimination when I pledged. I recall that there were serious discussions in the sorority as to whether or not we want to continue our affiliation with a sorority whose practices we found objectionable. It went no further when we realized there was no way that their policies would be changed in any fashion.
During the 1950s, we could hardly be characterized as confrontational but as a local chapter we decided to act in the only way we had available. A black speaker, who was to address one of our convocations, was refused accommodation at the Granville Inn and we decided not to patronize this establishment because of their prejudicial practices.
I am sad that the demise of Chi Omega came about, but proud that it was a result of the members’ courage to act on behalf of what they believed in—equality for all.
- Nancy Lang ’57 Queens, New York
Not until today, when I read “The Opposite of Sorority” in the winter issue, did I have a clue what had happened to my sorority, Chi Omega, which I belonged to at Denison from 1958 to 1960, when I transferred to a larger school which promised greater diversity. I remember getting a letter sometime that briefly explained that the sorority no longer existed at Denison; I assumed that the days of exclusive fraternities had passed, and Chi Omega was just the first to fall. I applaud the 1969 members who had the courage to deactivate from a racist organization.
- Judy Redmond White ’62 Ashland, Ohio
How odd—but telling—the winter 2007 issue of Denison Magazine addresses persistent disrespect, prejudice, and complacency in the university community. And the first black sorority sister, with the not very dark skin, who is the subject of the article on Chi Omega breaking the color barrier is reduced to an object: nameless, faceless and voiceless. Ironic, to say the least, and sadly all too emblematic of Denison.
- David Aquilina ’75 Minneapolis, Minnesota
The name of the alumna in question was withheld at her request. In conversations with the writer, James Hale ’78, she preferred to maintain her privacy and contended that the issue her sorority faced was much bigger than her individual involvement. –Ed.
Holding Ground
Just a brief note to say…wow…!!!
I am so proud of how the Denison family is approaching true change and seeking COMMON GROUND. It appears the seeds that were planted over successive generations since the sixties and through my era are growing into thundering and mighty oaks now towering over the DU campus!
Your story, “On Common Ground,” was simply fantastic. Full of raw emotion and yet full of hope and most importantly clear vision for a better future.
I will make sure my fellow classmates read this story and not gloss over it like I ALMOST did! I was aware of these incidents moments after they happened, and candidly, I felt it was business as usual at Denison. I’m so very proud of the faculty and especially the administration under President Knobel for taking such swift and decisive action. During my senior year at Denison, I witnessed a fractured faculty afraid of its own shadow and a duplicitous and facist administration hellbent on keeping students in their place.
The college has returned to that which attracted me to join the community. We had T-shirts back then honoring “The Goode Years.” It appears that warm, loving, and “we can do all things” spirit has returned to Granville. Godspeed, Denison, fair college on the hill. May your actions be a beacon of light carrying the message of hope across this great and diverse nation!
- Martin Jones ’86 Frisco, Texas
I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed your article, “On Common Ground.” I had caught wind of these events through word-of-mouth and was shocked to hear it. I was even more shocked to see how brutally honest you were in your story. However, you did a fantastic job of showing the power of the Denison community in swinging from the lowest of lows to a tight-knit community acting positively for change. I know it would have been easy to overlook the events and not share them with the alumni, but I think it was a great idea and one that made an impact, at least, on me.
Matt Walker ’06
- Santa Monica, California
Thank you for your article “ON Common Ground.” I have just finished reading it and confess that it brought tears to my eyes. As an alumnus, I remember Denison as a very special place, and this remarkable story of community overcoming intolerance reaffirms my memory of Denison and inspires great hope in me. Thank you for bringing these amazing events at Denison to life for us on the outside.
- Lars Q. English ’96 Carlisle, Pennsylvania
It was the promotion of unity, not the promotion of diversity, that created the unique phenomenon that is the United States of America. A reader of Denison Magazine commented, in the Winter 2007 issue, “The inmates are running the asylum” to describe the Homestead project. But wait! Idiocy confined to the Homestead? Is Denison ripe for a takeover from groups whose primary goal is the balkanization of the university? Groups who may be modern versions of the Weather Underground, or the Berkeley-inspired sitins, or the avowed communist, Angela Davis? (Yes, the Angela Davis who was welcomed to Denison.) Are the inmates already in charge at Denison?
Sadly, the real tragedy of the November 2007 disturbance is that the politically correct asylum attendants (the faculty) cower in the corner and pander to the self-seeking, immature whims of dissident groups.
And unfortunately, the warden lacks the sense of history that would let him foresee the disastrous effects to the university—and to himself—of capitulating to the selfish demands of student pressure groups. Demands that could, suddenly, include student approval (or veto) of all hires of the Denison faculty and staff, including the president of the university.
Did anyone wonder about the reaction of Columbus residents as they watched their TV last November? “Hey, Madge, look here! Look at what them spoiled brats at Denison have been doing this week instead of attending classes. Our daughter ain’t going near that place.”
And how did Denison parents react to the debacle of November? Or to the university’s pathetic email assuring students that there would be “no return to normalcy.” Yes, the parents who have strived to have “normalcy” in their lives and families, and whose dollars support the university.
- Al Vogan ’54 Colorado Springs, Colorado
Your article, “ON COMMON GROUND,” really touched me. After reading it, I was so proud of Denison that I plan to make a larger contribution to the Annual Fund this year. More than that, however, it gave me much needed hope for this world. It was so inspiring to read how each individual and groups of individuals within the experience—from students to faculty to leadership—took personal responsibility for what was happening. Truly, a remarkable demonstration of how vital it is that we create safe and open spaces for all voices to be heard in challenging times.
- Mary Knight ’75 Langley, Washington
I would like to applaud your very detailed account of the incidents leading to the January 2008 community meeting. Even as a recent graduate, I found it difficult to learn exactly what was happening on campus, so I truly appreciate the candor with which you reported the history.
I was, however, extremely disappointed by your statement that Denison was asking for this trouble by diversifying its student body (page 18, column 2, last paragraph). Increasing diversity is not asking for trouble; it is seeking to correct the great harm that has been done by having a homogeneous population for too long. An environment which includes a diversity of experiences is necessary to an education applicable to today’s world and makes us all more whole human beings. The blame for these incidents should be placed squarely on the ignorance and intolerance that Denison has been unable to keep from its campus, not the very important work of increasing diversity on campus.
If Denison asked for this trouble, it did so by failing to address the racial tensions that have always been detrimental to the Denison community and neglecting its responsibility to teach students about the duties of living with and respecting diversity. If the students who advertised their concert with a noose did not know about the events in Jena or the history of lynching, then Denison failed to teach those students the importance of current events and context in a liberal arts education. If any student felt entitled to make derogatory and threatening comments, then Denison has not made its campus a place where ignorance and hate are unacceptable.
I am proud of Denison for the steps it has taken in these past few months to address the racism and homophobia on our campus. I am fully aware that every community struggles with similar issues and I believe that Denison is now becoming aware of the need to address the problems head on. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. We cannot allow ourselves to blame these terrible incidents on the progress we have made or allow lack of knowledge to be an excuse. Denison has too many resources and too many people committed to its success and growth to let that happen.
Thank you for the wonderful work you do keeping us informed about Denison. I enjoy reading every issue of your magazine. I hope that you will continue to consider your role in keeping Denison’s administration, its students, and its alumni accountable to our university’s ideals.
- Danielle Godomski ’09 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
So a few malcontents succeeded in closing Denison University down for a few days last autumn. Be glad the Rev. Jesse Jackson didn’t make an appearance. That would have cost you a great deal more than words.
- Lynn Mulcahy Ford ’55 Coral Springs, Florida
I read with some interest and surprise about the campus-wide response to the racist, sexist, and bigoted communications that were reported in the winter Denison Magazine. Clearly, the extensive level of positive involvement both from the administration and the students was in sharp contrast to what I experienced while attending Denison from 1961 to 1965.
Sitting in the stands at a Denison home basketball game against a larger, urban school (Dayton or Akron), I witnessed and heard, as did all the other spectators, a particularly virulent, racist comment shouted by a Denison student or supporter. The other school had fielded a team of African-Americans who, by the fourth quarter of this game were well ahead of Denison’s five. The other team’s coach substituted a Caucasian player for one of the African-American players. About a minute later, during a time-out, a Denison student or supporter yelled out loudly for all to hear, “How’s it feel to be the only white boy out there?”
There was no audible response from anyone in the arena. I thought back to the racist slurs constantly aimed at Jackie Robinson when he broke into the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, the Denison student body failed to respond to this in any way and the college administration, including President Knapp, never addressed this incident publicly either. It must have seemed like “business as usual.”
One Denison administrative staff person wrote a letter to the Denisonian in protest, but that was the extent of any response on campus. Neither the college president nor the deans made a public statement, nor did the intra-fraternity council take any discernible action. No teach-ins, convocations, or speeches were arranged to deal with this blatant racist behavior.
I remember my freshman year arguing with a student from Columbus whose room was across the hall in Curtis East about President Eisenhower’s decision to send National Guard troops to the University of Alabama to ensure the safety of a tiny handful of African-American students recently enrolled and subject to threats to their lives. He said, in effect, that “we shouldn’t be forced to have to go to school with XXXXXs.” I will let you fill in the vile epithet that flowed so trippingly from his lips.
While at Denison in that period, we had enrolled exactly two African-Americans, an exchange student from India, one from Africa and no Latinos.
So, at this point, given the dreadful history of discrimination and bigotry, it is with a sense of relief that I see that Denison has clearly gotten past its small-minded, insular and frankly, embarrassing response to racial issues that unfortunately put it squarely in the camp of the racists in the sixties.
I applaud those responsible and those who participated in the various activities held as a direct response to the warped scribblings and notes. It bodes well for the future of Denison that people are willing to stand up and be counted, so to speak, in response to bigotry, sexism, racism, and totally unacceptable behavior.
- Robert S. Kay ’65 Agawam, Massachusetts
Reading the article about racial problems and the aftermath in the last issue of Denison Magazine, I felt like it was 1987 all over again.
Denison, like all colleges, recruits a fresh 25 percent of the population every year. That portion represents the next generation of Denison graduates. It is also the least mature, least knowledgeable quartile of the population. On the other end, every year the most mature, most knowledgeable quartile of the population graduates and leaves Granville. We all learn the cliché, history repeats itself. In an environment with a constantly changing, never aging, and never maturing population, history’s repetition is accelerated. So as in 1987 and 1996, racial issues arose again on Denison’s campus. All it takes is one or two idiots lacking common sensibilities to spark a campus-wide issue.
In 1987 I was what we called the “solicitor general.” I assume the position or its equivalent still exists on campus. In the fall, a few very stupid young men used racial epithets against at least one minority student. What happened next? A complaint was filed and I investigated the facts. Eventually I presented the facts to the student judicial board during an open hearing. It seemed the entire cam-pus attended the hearing. When the board returned, the penalty seemed insufficient to the crowd and all hell broke loose. Screaming, accusations of racial bias and insensitivity, and all but subtle threats were everywhere.
We ended up with several days of student- and professor-boycotted classes, news coverage, and a general sense of system failure. In hurry-up fashion, I met with Dean of Student Life Lex Smith, President DeRocco, and others in the university administration. Under the rules, the president had the power to trump the student judiciary-imposed penalty, and he did. My memory may be incorrect, but I believe the penalty was a full semester suspension, written apologies, and other items. The semester suspension satisfied the throngs and the protests ended. Slowly, Denison returned to normal, though wiser for the live laboratory class on civil disobedience.
These events all began because a few young people were too stupid to understand that words matter. The blame for their behavior goes straight to their homes, in my opinion. Denison cannot and should not try to guarantee that every freshman will come in with a unified sense of right and wrong. People differ, but there are boundaries that are beyond any interpretation. This racist type of thinking starts at home. It harms others when like-minded people get together, reinforce one another, and proceed to act like morons.
It is good to see that Denison takes the events very seriously. Racist stupidity has happened before and it will happen again; this is an unfortunate reality. As long as Denison responds each time with the same resolve, each new population of Denison students will graduate a bit savvier about what the world expects. College is a testing ground. What we do next counts.
As a final note, I will add that there are real consequences to doing the right thing. Shortly after my role in resolving the 1987 issues was over, someone poured gasoline in my off-campus apartment while I slept, and then set the place on fire. Some people are slow learners. One of the perpetrators bragged about the event at a party in Chicago, not understanding it was my uncle listening. I lived, and the universe will take care of the criminals in its own time. 1987 is over. 2007 is over. But you’re leaving markers up there to help the next generation, and that is all you are able to do.