The Case
Student leaders at Glenwood University have embarked on an ambitious campaign called “Defeating Discrimination,” which is aimed at creating a more inclusive campus atmosphere. While a few students had already been longtime advocates for change, the tide shifted after several jarring weeks when hate symbols were repeatedly discovered spray-painted on campus buildings.
In the aftermath of these incidents, a committee of student leaders hosted a town hall meeting where attendees were invited to share suggestions for initiatives responding to the incidents. Students put forth a wide range of proposals. Inspired by a phenomenon spreading on other campuses, several suggested that an Instagram page be created where students could anonymously share incidents of discrimination on campus. They proposed that increasing awareness of the frequency and gravity of these incidents would serve to increase accountability.
In support of this position, the students pointed towards other student-run social media pages at other universities, such as @BlackIvyStories. These “call-out pages” allow users to anonymously submit their negative experiences dealing with racism on campus without fear of repercussions. The anonymity is designed to ensure that even the most vulnerable students have a platform to share their experiences.
However, other students expressed discomfort with this type of public “outing.” They argued that it would be counterproductive and instill a culture of fear on campus rather than cultivate trust between students. Others were concerned about the logistics of running such a page—for example, who would verify the submissions before they were posted online?
As a compromise between these two sides, the committee decided that there would be a one-month trial period in which students were invited to make submissions to a @DefeatingDiscrimination Instagram page. However, none of the submissions would be posted until they were reviewed by the student leaders after the trial period.
Over the course of the following month, the committee received a wide range of submissions. While most were in text form, others included images or videos of the incidents being reported. Many were submitted anonymously, though some voluntarily provided information about the submitter. Several of these submissions appear below.
Others argued that it would be irresponsible to post any of these submissions without attempting to confirm the details, and that strict criteria were needed about what types of allegations should be posted. In addition, some felt that nobody would benefit from this type of calling out, and that a far more effective way of bringing change would be to “call in.” They suggested that the whole Instagram page idea should be scrapped.
Over the course of the discussion, it became clear that the Instagram page would need a clear set of guidelines for it to be effective—and that it was uncertain if it should even be created at all. By the end of the conversation, three concrete questions materialized about how to best administer the page.
1. May the names or images of alleged violators be posted? What types of potentially identifying information, if any, can be shared?
2. Must submissions be verified before they are posted online? If so, what should this verification process entail? (The submission form is set up in a way that allows the submitter to communicate anonymously with the Instagram page administrators.)
3. How should the page administrators determine what types of allegations warrant being posted? What factors need to be considered?
The Question
How would you advise the student committee to proceed with the Defeating Discrimination call-out page? Be sure to address the three questions raised above in your argument.
Student leaders at Glenwood University have embarked on an ambitious campaign called “Defeating Discrimination,” which is aimed at creating a more inclusive campus atmosphere. While a few students had already been longtime advocates for change, the tide shifted after several jarring weeks when hate symbols were repeatedly discovered spray-painted on campus buildings.
In the aftermath of these incidents, a committee of student leaders hosted a town hall meeting where attendees were invited to share suggestions for initiatives responding to the incidents. Students put forth a wide range of proposals. Inspired by a phenomenon spreading on other campuses, several suggested that an Instagram page be created where students could anonymously share incidents of discrimination on campus. They proposed that increasing awareness of the frequency and gravity of these incidents would serve to increase accountability.
In support of this position, the students pointed towards other student-run social media pages at other universities, such as @BlackIvyStories. These “call-out pages” allow users to anonymously submit their negative experiences dealing with racism on campus without fear of repercussions. The anonymity is designed to ensure that even the most vulnerable students have a platform to share their experiences.
However, other students expressed discomfort with this type of public “outing.” They argued that it would be counterproductive and instill a culture of fear on campus rather than cultivate trust between students. Others were concerned about the logistics of running such a page—for example, who would verify the submissions before they were posted online?
As a compromise between these two sides, the committee decided that there would be a one-month trial period in which students were invited to make submissions to a @DefeatingDiscrimination Instagram page. However, none of the submissions would be posted until they were reviewed by the student leaders after the trial period.
Over the course of the following month, the committee received a wide range of submissions. While most were in text form, others included images or videos of the incidents being reported. Many were submitted anonymously, though some voluntarily provided information about the submitter. Several of these submissions appear below.
- I was studying in the student lounge in the basement of the Collins library. The security guard (who is stationed outside the lounge every weeknight and has no excuse for this behavior) asked me for my student ID. No other students were asked. Do I even need to mention that I was the only non-white student in the room? (Sophomore, Buechner Fellow 2021-22)
- I overheard an RA in my friend’s dorm (Roosevelt Hall, I won’t say which floor) joke with their friend that they had tried to ensure there were no Jews in their dorm. When I confronted him about it afterwards, he said he was drunk and didn’t remember, and then later denied it completely.
- One submission was a 30 second video of students at a party, who appeared to be making fun of students they were tutoring in an English as a Second Language program on campus.
- Professor Lieber in the Sociology department has made extremely weird comments on her Twitter feed for *years.* These tweets are blatantly xenophobic. How is she still employed here?
- Does anybody know who these students are [image included]? They have been harassing students all night outside of the gym. I called campus security but not sure anything has happened about it. They aren’t there anymore. Please report them if you know their names.
- In my Political Philosophy (#PHIL 204, Fall 2021) class, one of my classmates tried to justify a KKK rally being held because “everyone deserves the right to have their free speech protected,” and that “speech itself is never violent.” A Zoom poll found that almost all of my classmates agreed with him. Obviously the KKK is a group that exists to incite violence. I was too shocked to even make this point out loud. (Political Science major, ‘23)
- The hockey team is disgustingly misogynistic and I would advise all female students to stay far away. Also I know for a fact that three students on the hockey team lied about being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It may even be more than those three. Stay safe, and stay away.
Others argued that it would be irresponsible to post any of these submissions without attempting to confirm the details, and that strict criteria were needed about what types of allegations should be posted. In addition, some felt that nobody would benefit from this type of calling out, and that a far more effective way of bringing change would be to “call in.” They suggested that the whole Instagram page idea should be scrapped.
Over the course of the discussion, it became clear that the Instagram page would need a clear set of guidelines for it to be effective—and that it was uncertain if it should even be created at all. By the end of the conversation, three concrete questions materialized about how to best administer the page.
1. May the names or images of alleged violators be posted? What types of potentially identifying information, if any, can be shared?
2. Must submissions be verified before they are posted online? If so, what should this verification process entail? (The submission form is set up in a way that allows the submitter to communicate anonymously with the Instagram page administrators.)
3. How should the page administrators determine what types of allegations warrant being posted? What factors need to be considered?
The Question
How would you advise the student committee to proceed with the Defeating Discrimination call-out page? Be sure to address the three questions raised above in your argument.