In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York, many universities around the nation are experiencing a backlash against foreign students and American students of foreign descent.
As of Sept. 28, the FBI was investigating some 90 incidents of hate crimes scattered across the nation.
On the CBS news program “The Morning Show” an Arabic student said that because of an environment where he no longer felt safe and secure, he was going home, as was many of his fellow foreign students.
As widespread as this problem is, ETSU appears to be an exception to the rule.
There have been no increased incidents of harassment (ETSU averages between one and two cases a month), and no incidents of (reported) violence against students of a specific ethnicity, nationality or religion.
Since the events of Sept. 11, the administration has been adamant about its stance on these types of incidents.
Administrators from the president of ETSU to the president of Student Government Associ-ation, have had something to say.
Dr. Gary Petiprin, director of the Counseling Center, has been involved with the “fallout” from the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.
He has been a major part of many of the university’s attempts to disseminate information campuswide.
When asked about incidents of harassment, Petiprin said “(We have had) no incidents of harassment dealt with by this office,” however he had heard unconfirmed reports of such incidents.
“Any type of hate towards a group generates out of fear, ignorance, anger and (a need for) power,” Petiprin said of the reasoning behind such harassment. “There is a need to place blame, and seek revenge on an unclear enemy; (combine that with) the natural impulse to identify people who may look like the (guilty) person.”
Petiprin went on to express how well the whole of ETSU has dealt with the tragedy. These ideas of togetherness and resolution were reinforced by ETSU President Paul Stanton.
Stanton explained his feelings on the day of Sept. 11 and also praised the students, faculty and staff of ETSU for the way they conducted themselves on the day of and in the events following the tragic events.
“I’m pleased with how people carried themselves and responded. Their reaction was overall to the positive, people wanting to help those hurt by the disaster. pulling together (to support) each other,” Stanton said.
When asked about the issue of harassment Stanton said that he had published his statements, including a “letter to the editor” of the East Tennessean, so everyone would know university’s position on such things.
“We wanted people to know ahead of time that [ETSU] will not tolerate people taking out their aggression on people of different ethnic backgrounds,” he said.
While Stanton had yet to hear of any specific incidents of harassment, he stated without hesitation that offenders should expect, “dismissal at any level.”
Stanton went on to talk about the university in the wake of the coming war on terrorism.
Many students of ETSU have enlisted in the military, or those in service may be called away. Stanton expressed several concerns and ideas when asked what would be done for those who would have to perform military service.
“We will not penalize students, (faculty, or staff) for serving the country,” he said.
Students will receive full tuition refunds, and faculty or staff will not be penalized as far as tenure and retirement.
The president expressed the importance of not penalizing those who served their country.
Like Stanton, Dr. Bonnie Burchett, associate director of housing, expressed her feelings of fear and anger over the events of Sept. 11, but she was quick to point out how well ETSU had handled the crisis.
With so many diverse people living in such close proximity the possibility of incidents of harassment or violence would seem likely.
Burchett, however, was adamant in her answer that it was indeed this diversity that was bringing about an increased openness and dialogue among on-campus residents.
“Though we (all) may want justice, no one on this campus caused this . and I challenge our staff to continue this dialogue,” she said.
Burchett also expressed that

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