I am shocked and disgusted by an article in your last issue.   The article, meant to be a joke, is titled “Indians take over Bridges office” and it shows President Bridges in a headdress.   It was not funny.   And if you did think it was funny, then we need to discuss why racism is a blatant part of our campus, even after two Symposiums.

As some one who has friends who are Native American both on this campus and off, I can’t help but feel angry for them.   I also think of my Cherokee great-grandfather, and the racism he had to endure throughout his life, even from those closest to him.

We are continuously taught in schools that racism is behind us, but it is not.   Especially not at Whitman.   This author may not realize how “PomPomPom” is offensive, just as those who attended the party last year in Blackface did not realize how that was offensive.   The act itself is one thing, but to not know why these acts are racist is also horrible.

If you have read this article and seen the picture, then I hope you understand how it is racist.   Now let’s discuss how it is homophobic.   An invented quote from a student says, of “Dances with Wolves,” “That’s my favorite movie, actually, but everyone kept calling me gay for wanting to show it.”   Is there really no way to move past gay jokes and racial slurs?   Is it just that this whole campus is apathetic to everything?

I wish I could continue to talk about how offensive this article was, but my eye is immediately caught by neighboring offensive articles.   “Less pussy that predicted” is one example.   And according to the “Date Auction” article, no one will ‘put out’ because there are Consent posters.   Which are on campus to prevent unwanted sex, not sex in general, just in case anyone is confused.   Oh yeah, and sexual assault does happen on the Happiest College Campus, another reality people like to ignore or downplay.

Here are the realities:   We do have diversity on this campus.   This article was offensive.   I do understand that it was a joke, and I do have a sense of humor.   However, if you want to create humor in the Pio, do it in a way that is not obviously racist to members of our Whitman community.

I’m not interested in a discussion of this article about “freedom of speech” and satire.   I’m also not saying that every piece of humor that comes out of the Pio should be politically correct.   Obviously, someone is always going to be offended.   In this case, the offense is racist.   I’m interested in hearing a public apology from the writers of this article to the campus, and especially to those most hurt by it.   At a certain level, the authors of this article knew what they were doing; if they didn’t, then there are larger social issues we need to look at.

If we continue to repeat the stereotypes of the past as a joke, we will never be able to face the realities of the diversities on this campus and be able to address them in an intelligent manner.

No matter how many Symposiums and multi-cultural events we have on campus, we will still have people who leave Whitman seeped in their own privilege and narrow-mindedness.

Racism, sexism, classism, homophobia and heteronorms, and political and religious intolerance are all things that exist at Whitman, as much as everyone tries to ignore it.   We as a campus have the power to make a difference, why don’t we care enough to?