'Tolerance is Not Enough'

Holy Cross’s ongoing campaign against bias and hate continues this academic year with new ways of involving the campus community. The “Hate: Not Here!” program has been a high-profile part of life on campus, sponsoring events designed to encourage dialogue about words and actions of hatred. Such events have included screenings and discussions of controversial films Crash and Brokeback Mountain.

“ ‘Hate: Not Here!’ is not an add-on, but an enhancement of what we do as a community,” says Mable Millner, assistant dean and director of multicultural education. Her hope is that the entire campus becomes pro-active in supporting the College’s dedication to creating an inclusive community.

Members of the campus community can offer their perspectives on anti-bias efforts in a poster contest. The winners will have their work published in a wall calendar. Entries can be individual or collaborative and as many designs per party can be entered. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate. The contest is also open to family members of all faculty and staff. Posters can be dropped off at Hogan 503 before Nov. 30.

“This is a campus-wide commitment. It reaches to administrators, faculty, staff, students – all areas of the campus. This is open to anyone in the campus community with a response or idea toward tolerance or intolerance,” says Millner.

More activities that endorse the ideals of the program have been lined up. Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, who in 1998 was killed in a gay hate crime, will give a talk titled “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard” on Feb. 6, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hogan Ballroom. The event, free and open to the public, will feature the winning poster designs.

An elementary school in South Worcester will also become part of the program, with Holy Cross students teaching literacy and the importance of tolerance in an upcoming outreach program.

The “Hate: Not Here!” initiative took root at Holy Cross through the efforts of Kolt Bloxson ’06. Bloxson saw the “No Place for Hate” campaign embraced by Worcester officials while interning for the city. Created by the Anti-Defamation League, the program champions tolerance and respect toward differences. Bloxson wanted to bring its message to the Holy Cross campus.

Her vision became reality in March 2005 when Holy Cross announced its official collaboration with the city to promote individual and collective responsibility for an inclusive, accepting campus community. ADL plans to certify Holy Cross as the first “No Place for Hate” college, becoming a model for other higher education institutions around the nation.

Looking at what has already been accomplished in a short time, Millner says, “There is a tremendous potential for what we could do.”

Jason Hernadez ’07, director of diversity for the Student Government Association, echoed the Holy Cross mission statement when he says, “The ‘Hate: Not Here!’ program serves to casually immerse the campus community into dialogue about acceptance of ‘diverse interpretations of the human experience.’ Although it is by no means a complete solution, it is a step in the direction of creating a normative role for this discussion on campus.”

The SGA contributes a lot of support to the initiative, which is important because “this was student-initiated to begin with,” says Millner.

Indeed, student involvement has been critical to the maturity of the movement, and many involved say that more must be done. The “Hate: Not Here” committee has been guided and inspired by Bloxson’s phrase “tolerance is not enough.”

“Although there has been a positive response, there is still more work to do. Promoting diversity and respect for differences at Holy Cross is a never-ending issue,” says Liz Green ’07, leadership intern in the Office of Orientation, Transition & Leadership and president of the Campus Activities Board.

Jerry Dickinson ’09, a student member of the “Hate: Not Here!” Committee, says, “It is my hope that the ‘Hate: Not Here!’ campaign will continue to illuminate the glaring problems on campus. I hope that this program can support and educate the campus on sex, gender, cultural and even economic disparages.”

By Erin O’Connell ’07

Related Information

* Kolt Bloxson ’06 Hopes ‘Hate: Not Here’ Initiative Promotes Harmony, Encourages Dialogue * Led By Kolt Bloxson ’06, Holy Cross to Join City’s ‘No Place for Hate’ Initiative