If you walk around a corner and run into somebody on accident, you should apologize. Better yet, the next time you walk around a corner, you should be more aware of the possibility of running into someone and avoid the issue altogether.

The “Cowboys and Indians” party a few weeks ago was like accidentally running into somebody in the hallway. It was a matter based on ignorance. Those involved had no malicious intent. Nevertheless, when you hurt somebody out of ignorance, you ought to apologize for it and avoid doing so again.

This was a great opportunity for the university, student alliances, etc. to create an educational moment, explaining to the community at large why certain groups felt hurt by what had happened.

It could have been a moment to help heal rifts between various groups and promote a more inclusive environment.  

This was not the case. Those at the party were lambasted and dragged through the mud. Not only was there a great deal of contempt on campus, but photos and stories were sent beyond DU. Several major publications had full articles on the matter, the most cruel of which was an article in Westword.

The article had links to the Greek chapter’s Facebook pages and included several photos. The author noted at the time the article was composed that there were no photos on the aforementioned pages, but that “members of the Alliance who spotted them on February 28 saved a couple.” So they must have sent them in to Westword.

The next phase of the conflict was the subject of the article last week in the Clarion titled “You don’t understand ’cause you’re white.”

The article attacked students at DU that did not feel awful about the party. The author then proceeded to explain white students cannot understand the plight of modern American Indians. Such broad strokes are incredibly harmful, especially when made against an entire racial group, regardless of which group that is.

In review of the entire series of events, it becomes clear that it was poorly handled.

The party was a mistake. It was a good thing that those involved apologized, and even better that they sat down with NSA to try to better grasp of what they had done.

This also should have been a point for campus to help heal a rift between various groups. Instead, it quickly became a battle that need not have occurred.

When NSA sent in photos, when an article was written that went after an entire race (which was not done out of ignorance), and when those involved in the original party were so viciously lambasted, we lost that opportunity.

We all make mistakes, some based out of ignorance, some based out of knee-jerk reactions and some in the form of an article.The only thing we can do with the mess that this has become is learn from it. The Greek houses should be more aware of potential harm from their actions.

The student alliances should avoid a knee-jerk reaction of anger when ignorance offends them, and instead work to mend the rift rather than widen it.

Finally, we should check our prejudices at the door when we write about such things, being sure to be fair and just in our writing.

B