Dear Editor, In the Maroon’s recent article on the Center for Intercultural Understanding’s renovation plans, marketing junior, Jasmine Bailey, was quoted as saying Loyola isn’t just a white student body, “and a lot of the big players in the administration would like it to seem that way.”

Jasmine Bailey should do one of two things for the Loyola community: She should tell us the identity of these “big players in the administration” and then specify instances of outward discrimination. Rooting out insidious racists from the administration should always be an immediate priority of the whole student body.

Obviously, Bailey has knowledge to help us with this mission. If Bailey cannot name these bigots and their trespasses, then she should exercise a second option by apologizing to the administration for so broadly pointing her finger with an intolerant disregard for their well-meaning intentions.

Our administration embodies Jesuit values and goals. Unwarranted accusations of racism are inappropriate and may say something of the pointer’s own discomfort and distrust of “white” people.

The second quote from Bailey goes on to say, “One of the reasons they want to change it so much is, when you look in there, what do you see?”, referring to the majority African-American student presence in the Center where the protest was being held. “And if they don’t want that to be seen the best thing to do was to move it and the second option was to cover it up,” she said, referring to the solid walls that will replace the Center’s glass walls.

Addressing this quote can best be done with a series of questions for readers to think through themselves without my opinions interfering with their train of thought: If lot of the big players in the administration are trying to obfuscate the presence of African-American students at Loyola, then why are African-American students displayed on the university website?

When a student defending the center behaves with so little understanding of other races and the room is predominantly used by a single race, then has the Center for Intercultural Understanding miserably failed in its mission?

Lastly, does cultural understanding need to begin outside the center or instead within?

Contact Info:Vedran Vuk

Contact Info:Loyola Alumni Class of 2007