Racism Disguised as Free Speech Appears on Oregon College Campus

Universities and other similar places are considered to be institutions of higher learning and bastions of the "liberal" intellectual elites where students regardless of race, religion, or culture can freely interact and expand their world view while practicing free speech. That educational ideal has been threatened at George Fox University, a small Christian school in Oregon where recently students hung an effigy of Sen. Barack Obama who would be the nation's first African-American President. A friend of mine, former St Pete Times journalist and current post-graduate journalism student at University of Southern California discovered this story and wrote to me. So I thank Amber Mobley for allowing me to re-publish her thoughts on the matter as well as the President's response to her letter. Post-racial society? You'd better think again. I'm not saying that the University is racist. I'm just saying that any time something like this happens in the mold of Jena, Louisiana, (remember a similar beginning to the Jena 6 saga?) we should hold those in charge accountable at the very least for addressing the issue immediately and making it clear that despicable acts of this kind are NOT welcome at an institution of higher learning--or learning institution of any kind.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Mr. Baker, As a scholar, a black woman, but most importantly, as a Christian, I am writing you out disappointment, outrage and disheartenment at the recent acts of your student body.

Hanging Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in effigy, as you have stated in the press, has got to be one of the most disgusting and disturbing things I have read about in quite some time.

I urge you to (and pray that you) find it absolutely necessary to find and expel everyone involved in the above-mentioned incident.

It not only leaves an indelible blemish on the history of your so-called "Christian" university, but also imbrues the very fabric of America and the supposed Christian values upon which our "great" country was founded.

If the correct actions are not taken in a timely fashion, your university, as well as you sir, will forever be a part of the culture of racism in America that continues to linger in the national conscience like the smell of so many innocent black men who were indeed lynched and hanged from trees, their bodies left to rot in the searing sun of the deep south.

Failure to act in an appropriate manner, I believe in my heart, will also add to the tainted image that so many potential believers have of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Please, think about what Jesus would do.

I will leave you with the lyrics to Billie Holiday's song, "Strange Fruit". I hope it paints a clear picture of the seriousness of lynching. Southern trees bear strange fruit,Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is fruit for the
crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather,
for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

~Amber Nicole Mobley

UPDATE Thursday, September 25, 2008

Dear Ms. Mobley –

Thank you for your very thoughtful note. I called a meeting yesterday of the community during our worship time and addressed this issue directly with them. If you would like you can listen to this address on our website, http://www.georgefox.edu/. What you may not know is that I have been working hard to address issues of race and diversity in our community. Several years ago I initiated on the campus the ActSix program which provides scholarships and aid to students from diverse backgrounds to come to our campus. The students (who are of every race) have provided great strength and power to our campus. The cutout of Senator Obama had a sign on it which read, "ActSix reject." I saw the incident as a direct attack on our efforts on campus to heal issues of race. Whoever put the Obama effigy up, was directly attacking our students of color. I considered the attack a personal one the students and on me and what we have been trying to do here. It is greatly disappointing. Unfortunately on a national level it is being depicted as a campus full of racists. The reality is far from that but we will diligently work to continue to bring change here.

We are trying to find those who are responsible. We have already had one talk back session and will begin a process of further dialogue on campus this coming week. You anger is justified but know that I am committed to continuing to address issues of race here and in the rest of the Christian community.

With regrets,

Robin Baker
President