In response to various conflicts among students in Loyola’s recent past, Bridging the Gap sponsored “I Am Not Tolerant” on Feb. 19 during the Window. In front of the Danna Center, representatives of Loyola’s cultural organizations talked about sexism, immigration, body image, racism, terrorism and domestic violence, among other topics.
According to Bridging the Gap vice president Danish Siddiqui, vice provost for Academic Programs Roger White called Puja Cuddapah, president of Bridging the Gap, to a general meeting after someone etched a swastika into the paint of a Biever Hall bathroom wall last semester.
White and Cuddapah called all cultural organizations to come up with an idea meant to raise awareness about tolerance among students.
Siddiqui, biology junior, said the incident in Biever was not the only motivation Bridging the Gap had to come up with the event. She mentioned that students were also upset about last spring’s scholarship banquet, during which a donor made anti-Muslim remarks.
“I think that this event was needed to move forward from that (conflict) – to move forward in unity and solidarity with everyone,” Siddiqui said.
According to Cuddapah, biology junior, they named the event “I Am Not Tolerant” to get people thinking about the definition of tolerance.
“We are in a world that we should evolve from just being tolerant of people to being accepting and understanding of them,” she said.
The Loyola University Community Action Program promoted healthy body image at its table. Bridging the Gap, Jewish Student Association and Etcetera focused on racism, anti-Semitism and hate crimes. The Muslim Student Association raised awareness of terrorism, and Loyola Life promoted its anti-abortion position.
According to English senior Ashley Chapman, the event’s location contributed to its success.
“I think it’s an awesome way to engage people cross-culturally because many people are intolerant,” she said. “And by putting it (the event) right in front of the Danna Center, it creates awareness on campus of people that are not in the same culture.”
Andrea Castillo can be reached at [email protected].
