OPINION & EDITORIAL
Think Campaign promotes dialogue
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by Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The Think Campaign would like to thank Robert Phansalkar for voicing his concern following the emergence of our campaign as a significant and important driving force for change on the UW campus. The Think Campaign is a new student-led initiative aimed at stimulating dialogue between students, faculty and staff, about a general intolerance on campus and recent hate crimes. We at The Think Campaign no longer find it acceptable that members of the Madison family do not have the appropriate conduit through which problems, stemming from hate, can be solved. The Think Campaign encourages people of all genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, political persuasions, ages and personalities to come together to combat the biggest problem facing students today. We encourage all people to get involved with proactive activities created with the purpose of breaking down barriers that have so long legitimized a lack in diverse interaction. Only through open dialogue and action on the part of all students here in Madison, can a safer, more diverse and more understanding environment flourish.
Concerning the statements made by Robert Phansalkar, The Think Campaign finds it necessary to explain more accurately the role we will play in changing the climate on campus to one more conducive to equality, egalitarianism and safety. The Think Campaign is by no means a witch-hunt, nor do we support any action on the part of any legislative body that persecutes people for personal beliefs. We do, however, believe that through open communication and interaction, such deep-seeded hate can be undermined. It is important for all students, faculty and staff to understand that we do not ourselves discriminate based on any condition, including personal or political beliefs. We intend only to create dialogue throughout our community to prevent individuals from feeling threatened by unfair treatment.
In response to Phansalkar's reaction to the "bias incident form," the only comment we are willing to make at this time is that the "bias incident form" is a service through the Office of the Dean of Students and has no affiliation with the Think Campaign. It is a means through which students can report hate crimes, not protected by the first amendment, to the administration so that they can then respond appropriately to the issue.
In her speech on September 21, 2006, Co-Chairperson of The Think Campaign, Jillianne Roos, stated, "The only way people can understand each other is through exchange and discussion." As a representative from the Think campaign, she did not mention, nor does she support any sort of punishment for personal beliefs. The Think Campaign supports solely the creation of diversity workshops that "encourage communication and understanding between students on the campus."
The Think Campaign agrees with Phansalkar when he says that, "The goal of a university isn't to brainwash, but to educate and innovate." The Think Campaign's main goal is to educate students on the importance of diversity and simultaneously inform the students about detrimental effects to our community as a result of a lack of understanding about diversity.
As Phansalkar stated, "Encouraging students to explore other cultures and to take workshops on discrimination is a fantastic method of accomplishing the goal of a bias-free campus." The Think campaign could not have stated it better. The Campaign's main goal is just that, to create a comfortable climate in which the exchange of ideas can flourish. The Think Campaign does not intend to punish people for not accepting our values, but we hope that in the course of the next few years, they will at least be willing to come learn what it is we actually believe in. The Think Campaign finds it slightly absurd that a columnist like Mr. Phansalkar could have such similar beliefs and yet such scathing criticism of a campaign he doesn't seem to know much about. So The Think Campaign offers this solution. For further information about the Think Campaign and for information on helping us create a climate of acceptance on campus, reject the misrepresentations made by Phansalkar in his column, e-mail Jill Roos (Roos@wisc.edu), and most importantly… THINK. It's that simple.
Alex Buchner Director of Publicity
