In solidarity with the indigenous people protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline’s semi-legal theft of sacred land, the Social Justice Council is collecting packages of new children’s socks and underwear to donate to the OST Child Protection Services, a tribal child welfare agency located on the Pine Ridge Reservation. According to this agency, these two items are major needs for the children protesting with their families at Standing Rock. Our goal is to collect fifty packages of new children’s socks and underwear by October 7th. A donation bin is located in the foyer.

From the Desk of Dr. Bloomfield:

The Man in the Mirror

I am a racist.  Is that shocking to read? Believe me: it’s even more shocking to write and to think. I was raised to respect all people, not to discriminate, and to see every person as unique and valuable. Nonetheless, I am a racist. I am part of the problem.

In our Humanities seminar the seniors and I read a sermon titled “I, Racist” (warning: adult language is used) in which the lector argues that racism is not about individual acts of discrimination. Metta says, “the system was made for White people, so White people don’t have to think about living in it.” I thought I was exempt from that because I do think about it, frequently. How could I not, with black men being shot and killed now a regular and all-too-frequent headline on every news outlet? But Metta continues to say that “racism is so deeply embedded in this country not because of the racist right-wing radicals who practice it openly, it exists because of the silence and hurt feelings of liberal America.”

And I knew that he was talking to me. My silence makes me complicit. And I know whereof I speak. There is an entire language for what we Jews call “silent collaborators,” referring to European citizens who lived right next door to Concentration Camps, Death Camps, or SS strongholds, knew all that was happening, and out of fear, self-preservation, or some other motivation, said and did nothing. I imagine myself on the side of the road in Charlotte or in Tulsa watching something occur and I wonder if I would have spoken up or interceded to protect an innocent life. And I know that I would neither have said nor done anything; I would have watched it happen. And then I remember the words from my favorite author: “any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

In his sermon Metta does not accuse me of being a racist; he explains, instead, the true nature of cultural racism, and invites me to think honestly about my place in it. I cannot change a culture by myself, and I cannot reverse injustice in this world. I can, however, adopt Macbeth’s mantra: “I dare do all that may become a man.” And so I admit that despite that fact that I do not believe I consciously hold any prejudices or discriminate against any person based on race, I am a racist. I challenge you to read Metta’s sermon, discuss this with your family, look at yourself in the mirror, and think about what you are willing to admit about yourself.

The Red Cross returns to campus for the first of its twice yearly drives at The Academy! The Blood Drive will be held on Friday, October 14, from 1 to 6 PM. Students will be bringing home donor forms, with the goal of each student finding at least one person to donate blood. Appointments can be made by filling out and sending in the donor form, or by calling the Main Office during regular business hours, or by visiting the Red Cross Blood Drive appointment page and entering our zip code. Baked goods for donors are also a high priority, so there are ways for everyone to lend a hand. We appreciate in advance your support of this important service event!