Teachable Moments: Symbols of Hate
Todd Zakrajsek, Director
Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching

Teachable moments are rarely announced.  They can be positive or negative events, and come from just about anywhere.  How we respond to these moments define who we are as individuals and what we are as an institution. 

The recent finding of nooses on campus and the subsequent newspaper articles, face-to-face discussions, blogs, protests, and statements before the academic senate certainly provide us with a strong “teachable moment.”  If you read any amount of information surrounding this incident, you will find several opportunities for education.  On November 14th, just after the nooses were reported in a CMU learning space, an all campus e-mail was sent to the campus community: “CMU Statement on Diversity.” Included in this e-mail was the clear statement, “This type of activity will not be tolerated at CMU, and we realize that we have much to do to continue our mission of raising awareness and educating everyone on diversity issues.” If this incident tells us nothing else, it tells us we have a lot of work to do to educate individuals on issues of diversity.

If you have not already done so, consider how this incident, as unfortunate and unsettling as it was, might serve as a teaching moment in your classes.

One option is to discuss symbols and how they are used in our society.  In the many web posts I have read and the conversations I have had with several individuals over the past 10 days, one theme has been particularly prevalent: several individuals (both at CMU and ELSEWHERE) appear to NOT know that a noose is a symbol of hate and the resulting impact of such a symbol being displayed in public. While it is easy to state that educated individuals, “should know better,” that response alone will do little to change the current state of affairs.  Take this opportunity to discuss with your students the powerful impact of symbols in our society, particularly symbols of hate. 

The noose is used as a symbol of hate, and like other such symbols, the presence of these symbols result in deep emotional responses for many individuals.  The issue is not whether using such a symbol without regard to its status as a hate symbol is inappropriate – it clearly is.  The issue is how to help our students to understand the meaning of these symbols in contemporary culture and why the use of these symbols is unacceptable.

One specific consideration is to NEVER identify a member of any group to speak for her or his group. You may certainly ask if anyone would like to respond, but to point to a person and say, “as a ___, how do you feel about this,” is considered rude and inappropriate.

Because of the evolving understanding and sensitivity of issues such as symbols of hate, these are not easy discussions to hold in class.  That said, it is important that everyone contributes to creating a climate of trust and respect at CMU.  There are several offices on campus that can assist if you would like more information about these issues or discussions of these issues in your classes.  Please contact me at FaCIT and I can assist in finding the most appropriate office or person.  There are MANY on campus who are eager to help.

Bringing together a wide diversity of individuals is massively beneficial for a large number of reasons.  However, whenever the diversity of a given population increases, misunderstandings, disruptions, and even intentional clashes will inevitably emerge. Appropriate responses to these incidents are vital for the growth of all. Faculty can contribute expertise and lead discussions from a variety of disciplines, for the betterment of all involved.  This may well lead to many more teachable moments on this topic, perhaps with our students increasingly serving as future facilitators.  The result might just move us a bit closer to fairness and equality for all human beings.  That would be a positive outcome.