The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 94, Issue 13 - December 2, 2015

www.LALOYOLAN.com ■л0ОАШаёШ> LOYOLAN Find out more about KXLU's Here’s what Sports Intern history - it might be more jim De Vries has to say surprising than you think. about Bryant’s retirement. Page 13 Page 19 EST. 1921 VOLUME 94 I ISSUE 1 3 Blackface image removed from wall Special Report on RACE Note from the Editors: At colleges and universities across the country, student activists in recent weeks have brought attention to the injustices faced by people of color. For some people on the Bluff, this movement comes as no surprise, nor are its concerns unfamiliar. As ASLMU Chair of University Affairs and senior political science major Ugonma Nwankwo told the Loyolan, “It was really only a matter of time.” LMU’s position in the greater context of race in America is the focus of this special report. At the Loyolan, our role is to illuminate these voices on campus - the voices that need to be heard. With that in mind, we took particular care to reach out to the entire community and reflect the views of a diverse interview pool. Turn to page 2 for a sampling of what we found. INSIDE VOICES ON RACE: When it comes to race, the LMU community has a lot to say. Page 2 A HISTORY OF BLACKFACE IN THE MEDIA: Demeaning depictions of people of color have plagued society and the arts for centuries. Page 3 THIS IS A LOVE SONG: A contributor shares an essay about the need to meet at the intersection of race and gender issues. Page 3 LMU STANDS WITH STUDENTS OF COLOR: Student demonstrators held a rally on campus in November. Page 4 ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE PROTEST: Every successful activist movement shares a few key components. Does this one fit the bill? Page 4 EDITORIAL: In the supposedly sheltered confines of LMU, talking about race is as relevant as ever. Page 9 For videos and more stories, like the Los Angeles Loyolan on Facebook and visit laloyolan.com. The Bias Incident Response Team has covered an image depicting blackface in the centennial mural in Malone. Amanda Lopez News Editor @AmandaLo_ LMU’s stances on racism and diversity were called into question several weeks ago when students discovered an image depicting blackface in the centennial mural located on the first floor of the Malone Student Center. According to Brad Stone, chair of the African American studies department and philosophy professor, he had brought the image to the University's attention several times over the last year, but it was never addressed until now. “I’d like for us to become an institution where we’re proactive instead of reactive on these kinds of things. For a whole year, I argued about this picture,” said Stone. “I’m not so worried much that there was blackface at that time, the catch is that that mural is relatively new ... This is a recent composition. It’d be different if this was a mural made at that time, but it’s not.” Along with Stone, members of the LMU community wondered: If the mural was supposed to be a celebration of LMU’s legacy, why was this image a part of it, and what did it mean? The University and the Bias Information Response Team (BIRT) took action after a student reported the image to ASLMU Chair of University Affairs, Ugonma Nwankwo, a few weeks ago. On Monday, Nov. 16, University Communications released a statement that BIRT reviewed the image and “painted over the affected portion of the artwork and posted a community notice on the mural as an interim measure” on Nov. 15. BIRT, established in 2005, is responsible for investigating and communicating any bias -related incidents that occur at school. In 2004, former LMU President Robert B. Lawton assembled a task force to determine whether racial discrimination existed in any aspects of the campus, and how the University could handle these kinds of issues properly. Thus, BIRT was created. It is now со -chaired by Dr. Lane Bove, senior vice president of student affairs, and Michael O’Sullivan, vice provost for academic affairs. Bove explained how BIRT is only one aspect of the initiatives taken over the years to create a more diverse environment at LMU. “While mistakes have gotten made over the years regarding these complex and dynamic issues, the mistakes were made not out of malice, but because it is a human process wrought with imperfection. It is my view, that, at LMU, we come to these issues of diversity, equity and inclusions with the best of intentions,” she said. While some students and faculty saw BIRT’s actions as a success, others were still left with unanswered questions. The centennial mural was created by Sydney A. Banta ( ‘12) in April 2012, following the University’s centennial celebration in 2011. President Timothy Law Snyder worked closely with BIRT and the administration. He discussed how LMU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion heavily influenced the decision to cover the image. “One alumnus disagreed with it, claiming that covering the image disregarded its historical and social significance and was not fair to the individual depicted. I responded that flags, images and words can take on divisive or offensive messages and meanings over time,” Snyder said. From Snyder’s point of view, the University’s decision not to comment on the individual in the image does not change the fact that it was offensive. “Much of campus controversy over See Blackface | Page 5 Community Notice A ccmmunRy concern abort an Imago in this mu-al bn teen expressed. The concern has teen reported to the 8*as Inoflent Response (BUT) lor .racluoon. А pffltcn Of »» mural nn been ним owr « an mtetlm 10 ,0"°" ЬЙДГ W*"' “ (310> 338-77S3 « Emilia Shelton | Loyolan The community notice above was posted on Nov. 15 afterthe image was reported by students. Soccer finishes best season ever LMU women's soccer's historic run came to an end as the Lions were beat 5-2 in the sweet 16 by West Virginia University on Sunday. Jill Farley (2), Callie Taylor (27), Morgan Hllby and the rest of the team won against UC Berkeley and University of Minnesota to become the final remainingWest Coast Conference team in the tournament before losing against the Mountaineers. Finishing off this season with a 15-6-1 record, the Uons have reason to be proud. For more, checkout laloyolaaconVsports. Campus safety bill stirs debate Greek organizations around the country have expressed their opposition to the act. Karis Addo-Quaye Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan The North American Interfraternity Conference and the National PanheUenic Conference recently withdrew their support for the Safe Campus Act (H.R. Bill 3403). If passed, this heavily debated piece of legislation would require victims to report sexual assault claims to law enforcement before granting campus administration the right to act beyond interim measures. The goal is to effectively limit the punitive actions the college or university could take against the accused individuals. The bill emerged from the growing fervor with which colleges and universities nationwide, alongside a variety of interest groups and affiliated organizations, sought a solution to best address and resolve the alarmingly frequent occurrence of sexual assault among their students. The bill has met a lot of controversy since its introduction to Congress this past July by Representatives Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Kay Granger (R-TX). Proponents for the Safe Campus Act claim it will enable a fairer, more reliable commitment to the due process of law. They also say it will benefit the accused by limiting the possibility of a false report. The alleged victims of sexual assault and interpersonal misconduct cases will also benefit, as mishandling of justice will be prevented by their college or university’s administration. One such supporter is the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) whose core mission is “to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s colleges and universities.” They have asserted that because universities have historically proved themselves to be incompetent in justly handling such cases, the act would do victims a service by removing universities from the equation. It would require “allegations of sexual assault [to] be investigatedby impartial, trained law enforcement officers with the necessary skill and expertise to reach just conclusions, and the punitive power to hold those convicted accountable to the victim and society.” See Safety | Page 5