Dialogue between university administrators, community necessary regarding billboard

On April 3, I wrote a letter to The Daily Orange in which I expressed disappointment that Syracuse University faculty had unilaterally taken down the controversial “white privilege” billboard downtown. That letter was based on the limited information available at that time, primarily a brief press statement by Transmedia Chair Heath Hanlin. It has since come to my attention that it was not, as the statement expressed, university faculty who opposed the billboard; it was rather opposed by the community in which the billboard was placed. Unfortunately, not a lot of information has been made public about the affair.

As such, I would like to apologize for that letter and take responsibility for writing it too hastily.

I support the university’s decision to respond to the community’s demand promptly. What is needed now, however, is a dialogue about 1) how the implementation of the billboard was actually an act of white privilege and 2) how the university can move forward in truly working with the diverse local community here, of which I consider myself a part. My main concern expressed in the letter — that dialogue about white privilege and racism has to be sustained — still stands.

The community has taken the task of organizing such a dialogue, which will take place this Thursday at 5:30 at the Dunbar Community Center. I hope that university administrators, faculty and students make the effort to come and listen to the community’s concerns and learn how we can work with — and not apart from — the community.

Derek Ford
Ph.D student, Teaching Assistant