On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the Black Student Association (BSA) hosted a panel after the devotional period of chapel, and sought to have a conversation about allyship. This program was the fourth in a five-part series of chapel programs and devotionals planned by the BSA during Black History Month. During and in the hours following the panel discussion, YikYak posts were made in strong dissent toward many of the statements made by panelists, and the existence of the panel altogether. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
YikYak is a social media channel that originally launched in 2013 and relaunched in 2021 that allows people to anonymously create and view discussion threads within a five mile radius of their location. Following the BSA\u2019s Feb. 7 chapel program \u2014 in which Walter Kayesse, a College of Pharmacy student, discussed the topic of medical malpractice that Black people have historically and systemically faced \u2014 junior Halle Miller, public relations officer for the BSA, noticed some hateful responses on YikYak, and responded with an opinion piece titled \u201cSay it to my face,\u201d printed in the Feb. 11 issue of the Bison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is smiling in my face but doesn\u2019t really honor me \u2014 either as an image-bearer or as a Black person \u2014 who are these people?\u201d senior Phallen Reed, president of the BSA said in an interview. \u201cI think there has been a little bit of increased paranoia, or just, unease and unrest, even. That kind of reminder, so to speak, that this is where people place us. This is where we fall in society at large, in society at Harding, in the South \u2014 whichever way you want to put it. So, in us saying \u2018say it to my face,\u2019 it\u2019s just \u2014 let us know who you are so we know how to operate around you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The panel on Feb. 23 included four students: senior Roland Wallace, senior Zach Smith, junior Trinity Peviler, and senior Lily Beth Ayers. The panel was moderated by BSA sponsor and associate professor of Bible Tim Westbrook<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The various YikYak comments that followed were gathered by 2021 alumna and former BSA president Raissa Ames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ames compiled more than 30 screenshots of \u201ccurrent students showcasing the truly awful, bigotted, and racist things being communicated through the app,\u201d in a PDF, and attached it in an email she sent to members of the former African American Task Force Committee (AATFC). Ames said she was not aware if the committee still stood or if the members she knew from last school year were still involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever,\u201d Ames said in the email, \u201cI once remember that this was a space I felt safe to voice concerns and that is my purpose for reaching out to you all today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fall 2020, in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests nationwide, and in an effort to create processes for recognizing African American achievement on campus, former President Bruce McLarty formed the AATFC. Dr. Greg Harris, assistant professor of kinesiology and women\u2019s soccer coach, was appointed head of the committee. The committee was made up of current and former faculty, staff, board members, and students. Harris said the purpose of the committee was to \u201cintentionally honor and create ongoing processes for acknowledging the support, service, leadership, and inspiration provided by African American men and women.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that mission in mind, by the end of the 2020-21 school year, Harris said the committee had accomplished three goals: \u201cgetting approval by the board of trustees to rename the administration building to the Howard Wright and Elijah Anthony Administration Building; the creation of the Botham Jean memorial; and the honoring of some of the firsts by African American students at Harding University.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris said that after meeting the three goals, he was made aware that the committee would be dissolved in spring 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her email, Ames made three recommendations, and asked the committee members to urge immediate action from University administration: (1) tracking IP addresses of YikYak users, and bringing individuals that violated the mission statement and handbook in front of the disciplinary board of the school; (2) banning YikYak from Harding servers; (3) releasing a school-wide statement speaking against the hate comments made on the app, and affirming that that type of speech does not align with the mission of the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you are not yet convinced,\u201d Ames said in her email, \u201cI advise that you think about how these posts reflect the hearts and minds of the student body of the institution I am sure you all hold dearly. The students that made these posts are not just students, they are club members\/leaders, organization members\/leaders, and most importantly leadership amongst church congregations. In what world would we want the people behind these posts in any of these positions?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reed said that while she thinks Ames has had a different experience than she has, she appreciates the bold strides that she has made towards change, and she admires that Ames still cares about change at a school she has already graduated from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a whole, no Harding student has had the exact same experience,\u201d Reed said. \u201cBut, I know for me personally, I appreciate the noise that Raissa has been making, because that brought to light things and avenues that I didn\u2019t even know were possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dean of students Zach Neal sent an email statement to all undergraduate students on Thursday, Feb. 24, acknowledging the YikYak conversations that had begun the previous day. In the email, Neal said the statement was made via email, rather than in person, due to the inclement weather that had closed campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt Harding we have a deep appreciation for racial diversity,\u201d Neal said. \u201cWe are supportive of open and healthy conversations regarding race in our society and within our campus community. Unfortunately, some of the conversations that have taken place on anonymous social media platforms are neither open nor healthy. I am very sorry that members of our student body are now struggling because of the careless or hateful words of someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neal said that, in affirmation of the student handbook, \u201cany racist language or behavior is strictly prohibited and will be met with disciplinary action when individuals are identified.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neal said he asks that students use social media for encouragement, and that he was prayerful that this could be an opportunity for members of the campus community to reflect on their own thoughts, words and actions. Neal offered to meet with anyone personally if they had concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, Feb. 28, President David Burks made an announcement at the close of chapel, affirming Neal\u2019s email. Burks said the University was founded on spiritual convictions that remain at the core of its identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe character, example and concerns of Jesus Christ are the bedrock standards that shape who we are,\u201d Burks said. \u201cI believe \u2014 we believe \u2014 all people are created in the image of God and therefore we are all of equal value to him, Genesis 1:27.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burks said that because God shows no partiality, neither does the University, and accepts, respects, and loves students of all races and nationalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe stand opposed to racism in any form, and we expect everyone who is a part of Harding to be treated with a dignity and value that everyone deserves by virtue of being an image bearer of God,\u201d Burks said. \u201cI know this community. I know the students and faculty and staff who are a part of it. and I know that\u2019s how we want to live and how we want to treat everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reed said that if Harding does have these ideals and values, then that should be reflected in difficult conversations about racism and prejudice, even if many students and faculty members do not understand firsthand. Reed said she does not think that the University tried to start having conversations about racism and injustice until Botham Jean\u2019s death in September 2018. Even now, she said that more work is needed to bring enough attention to the injustice that Black students at Harding continue to face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMonuments are great, building changes are great,\u201d Reed said. \u201cBut if the way that people operate day to day on this campus [doesn’t] change, nothing is going to change. You\u2019re not going to have people that want to continue coming here, you\u2019re not going to have people that want to work here, or are even going to be able to work here at some point, and Harding is going to die out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris said that while a lot of hurt was healed by the goals achieved, and the statements made at each of the dedication ceremonies, he wished the task force committee still existed and could help the Harding community continue to grow through what it is continuing to experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThroughout our meetings with the task force,\u201d Harris said, \u201cOur thoughts and feelings evolved to the point of thinking that we may be called to another purpose of being a group that can help Harding grow and heal through supporting and educating all of our students, faculty and staff at Harding in various ways.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Executive Vice President David Collins said in an email statement to the Bison that, \u201cWe at Harding will continue to call each member of our community to a uniting, Christ-like love for one another, and we will maintain the highest of expectations regarding each one\u2019s behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collins said he was saddened to learn about the inappropriate comments being made anonymously, and that hateful comments have no place at Harding. He said he appreciated the statements by Neal and Burks, and was thankful for the continuing work of Tiffany Byers, director of multicultural student services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are committed to providing opportunities for our students to hear and understand the perspectives and experiences of each other when done so in a respectful, productive manner,\u201d Collins said. \u201cI am encouraged that, even out of this situation, many conversations and meetings are already happening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reed and Miller both said that today\u2019s BSA meeting is open to the entire student body, as well as faculty, staff and administration. Both Reed and Miller said that they want it to be a forum for discussion and education. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the student center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the Black Student Association (BSA) hosted a panel after the devotional period of chapel, and sought to have a conversation about allyship. This program was the fourth in a five-part series of chapel programs and devotionals planned by the BSA during Black History Month. During and in the hours following the panel discussion, YikYak posts were made in strong dissent toward many of the statements made by panelists, and the existence of the panel altogether.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15200,"featured_media":16882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15200"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16893"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16894,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16893\/revisions\/16894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}