As I was checking my e-mail this morning, I saw the unfortunate headline of a Columbia University professor who's door was home to a noose that was anonymously placed there. The broad focus is that people can't believe in such a diverse place like Manhattan, or the upper west end for that matter, being home to a racist hate crime.
Jog back a number of weeks to another headline that you should have at least gandered at. The Jena Six court trial, that made nooses back in fashion, has fueled a new term of endearment to the Ivy League happening. "Jena at Columbia." Of course, the usual recoil of student protests, instant e-mails regarding the situation and vague answers from the school president and faculty followed. Even a friend of mine who attends the college said it was pretty awful how the campus felt today. Like a cat stroked against the fur. Irritated, coarse, unsettling.
I guess my POV comes in that it's a damn shame it happened. But it's also a shame that people feel like they're outraged by such a thing. In the realm that people want to know if it was a fellow professor... a grad assistant... a random freshman... even the night janitor, I doubt they will ever find out. Even the other events that have reared their ugly head this year on the school's campus, showed that hate and division are not parked on the other side of Morningside Park.
Whoever the culprit is, obviously has an opinion that was meant to be heard nationwide. But that person also is a pure coward, through and through. A mousey, slithering imp that wanted to let a piece of rope speak instead of personally calling the professor a "nigger" to her face. I'm not antagonizing that people should use that kind of slur, but whenever you heard of burning crosses left in yards, or tagged/spray painted buildings that no one would take ownership to it, it's a display of the utmost cowardice.
So, pray tell, what is the answer? I personally don't know if there is a real answer. I mean, you can propose cameras in all the halls... rooms... offices... dorms... maybe increase police patroling? All those things sound like one more step towards becoming cell block D at 'singsing. So, when the dust settles, who wins in the end? People who were made aware of the mayhem at Columbia and want to prevent any future hate crimes? Maybe someone read into the Jena Six case as a result of hearing the Columbia nickname and they want to help below the Mason/Dixon? Or is there a person out there that can cut out the headlines and smile when they're on the subway, or even pass by you on a stroll through Central Park with a friendly gesture because they stirred up a campus, city and country for a hot second without even saying a single word.
Since I don't think there's a 100%, fill-in-the-blank answer to the situation, I propose that we all just keep trying to be nice to each other and use our mouths to voice how wrong something like this is. The more we talk about it and keep it as common knowledge, the more that infects people into knowing and believing it.
The irony lies in that Columbia's mascot is the Lions. A courageous, vocal, proud animal that stakes it's claim and rules until the day it dies. The speechless mouse can have his fun for now...
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