Centre College Religion Program
Response to Vandalism, Spring 2021
The Religion Program faculty feel compelled to respond to the recent incidents of racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic vandalism on campus. Following President Moreland’s email, we cannot express strongly enough that these activities are unacceptable. Not only does this expression of hatred serve to make many of us within the Centre community feel unwelcome and unsafe (which was likely part of the perpetrators’ goal) but it is a reminder that we are all responsible for making Centre the kind of community we wish it to be. The combination of racist and misogynistic language with particular nationalist visions is not a coincidence. These acts reflect broader national discourse that sows seeds of division and that perpetuates longstanding patterns of systemic violence. Libraries ought to be places where ignorance is conquered, not propagated. We cannot become the intellectual community we aspire to be so long as these actions go unaddressed.
As a Program, we care deeply about issues of equity and inclusion, and we will continue to work to advance the interests of those who are underrepresented on Centre's campus both in our classrooms and beyond. We welcome the opportunity to have the difficult discussions we need to have to make Centre a more vibrant, safe, equitable, and inclusive place in which differences inspire communication rather than conflict. We are here to listen, to engage in dialogue, and to work for change.
Yours in solidarity and indignation,
Rick Axtell, W. David Hall, Lee Jefferson, Byron R. McCane, Matthew Pierce, and Shana Sippy
As a Program, we care deeply about issues of equity and inclusion, and we will continue to work to advance the interests of those who are underrepresented on Centre's campus both in our classrooms and beyond. We welcome the opportunity to have the difficult discussions we need to have to make Centre a more vibrant, safe, equitable, and inclusive place in which differences inspire communication rather than conflict. We are here to listen, to engage in dialogue, and to work for change.
Yours in solidarity and indignation,
Rick Axtell, W. David Hall, Lee Jefferson, Byron R. McCane, Matthew Pierce, and Shana Sippy
The Underrepresented Faculty Council's
Statement on Vandalism
The Underrepresented Faculty Council wants to express our anger and sadness about the acts of vandalism that have occurred recently on Centre’s campus.
We affirm that such hate has no place at Centre and ideologies that invite and justify racism, sexism, and xenophobia must not be tolerated on this campus.
As members of underrepresented groups ourselves, we know all too well how powerful and dangerous expressions of hatred, threats of violence, and racist language can be. We know too that being a minority on this campus and in this community can be difficult and actions such as this make many of us feel unsafe, unwelcome, and marginalized.
We want to be clear that—along with the administration and other members of the faculty and staff—we take these incidents of vandalism seriously. This behavior cannot be tolerated, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. As a campus community, we need to work actively to combat these sentiments and actions through education, dialogue, and action.
The UFC remains steadfast in our commitment to do everything in our power to transform Centre into an anti-racist institution: a place where difference, equity, and inclusion are prioritized in everything that we do.
With sincerity and in solidarity,
The Underrepresented Faculty Council
We affirm that such hate has no place at Centre and ideologies that invite and justify racism, sexism, and xenophobia must not be tolerated on this campus.
As members of underrepresented groups ourselves, we know all too well how powerful and dangerous expressions of hatred, threats of violence, and racist language can be. We know too that being a minority on this campus and in this community can be difficult and actions such as this make many of us feel unsafe, unwelcome, and marginalized.
We want to be clear that—along with the administration and other members of the faculty and staff—we take these incidents of vandalism seriously. This behavior cannot be tolerated, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. As a campus community, we need to work actively to combat these sentiments and actions through education, dialogue, and action.
The UFC remains steadfast in our commitment to do everything in our power to transform Centre into an anti-racist institution: a place where difference, equity, and inclusion are prioritized in everything that we do.
With sincerity and in solidarity,
The Underrepresented Faculty Council
