Insults fly in spirit of SA Diversity Week

April 3, 2006 —

The Student Center Rotunda was transformed Tuesday into the Hall of Tolerance, where nearly 30 students were voluntarily insulted in order to gain a better understanding of discrimination.

"This event is an eye opening experience intended to push buttons," said Beth Schafer, Student Association's Campus Events chair. "It is designed to bring the reality of offensive language to the forefront of understanding."

From 1 to 2:20 p.m., students could randomly participate in the free, SA-sponsored Diversity Week event.

Participants were each asked to write three things they disliked about themselves on nametags and then walk through a small, screened-off area. Behind the screens were five SA volunteers ready to shout very personally insulting statements at the participants.

"The gym is that way!" shouted one of the volunteers at a participant who had written that he felt overweight on one of his nametags.

"Do you ever take a shower?" was another derogatory remark aimed at an individual self-conscious about his perspiration habits.

Many of the participants commented afterward on how they were affected by walking through the hall.

"I think having people talk that way about you makes you feel awkward," Eric Lee said.

"I knew what was going to happen before walking though, and I still wasn't prepared," SA representative Jeanna Byers said.

However, Eric Van Allen's comment seemed to resonate with the majority of participants.

"It just hurt," he said. "Do we get free counseling after this?"

In fact, Student Counseling Center director Tony Thomson was on hand throughout the event.

"I'm here observing and supporting the students," Thomson said. "I'm also here just in case someone has an emotional issue."

None of the participants actually followed up with counseling, but they were all given a certificate commending them for completing the Hall of Tolerance.

They were asked to sign their certificates as a pledge to never treat others as they had just been treated in the hall.

"More than anything, I want this event to spark discussion," Schafer said. "If it can spark discussion, then that is what's important."

Schafer was also responsible for helping make Diversity Week's Hats off for Humanity possible.

From Monday to Thursday, students wishing to demonstrate unity could come by the Rotunda and trade in one of their own hats for a uniform diversity hat.

The 80 donated hats will be unveiled today as a multi-dimensional piece of artwork in the rotunda. The various shapes, sizes, and colors of the hats are meant to symbolize unity through diversity.

Schafer said she hopes that both the Hall of Tolerance and Hats off for Humanity events will remain part of all future SVSU Diversity Weeks.

"I'm graduating, but this is something I'd love to pass on," Schafer said. "Diversity is not a dead topic. It's not anything that will ever go away. We can just hope to make it better."