Editor’s note: the length restriction on forum letters has been waived.

Take action on Free Expression incident

I have to agree with Ian Avera’s statement — no one should be ashamed of any social identity that they are born into, it is something simply beyond their control.

What should have been painted on the tunnel Wednesday morning was “I’m ashamed to be an N.C. State student.” I agree that radicals should never be allowed to represent the majority of a group. But when the people in charge don’t step up to punish or at least provide a strong statement saying that the University will not condone such actions, it looks bad. Numerous news sources, even non-news sites such as Fark.com picked this story up.

A quick speech or rally (one our beloved chancellor couldn’t even bring himself to attend) and short essay are not the kind of actions that send a strong message. Heck, I’ve written short essays about dinosaurs and presented them in grade school. Are we saying that our administration is no more capable than I was 10 years ago to stand up against blatant racism?

And before I accuse those in charge of racism (everyone calling each other racist never gets anywhere), maybe Oblinger didn’t take a harder stand because it didn’t hit home. Say I wrote on the wall “Shoot Oblinger, he’s making more than many doctors!”

I’m sure I’d find myself in Student Conduct or jail in a heartbeat, before any search of my dorm was conducted. So what’s the deal? Ideas and words are just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than actions. You can’t have hate crime without the hate. No one living today was around during slavery, yet we still have blatant racists on our campus. This is because ideas last — they don’t just go away with time.

So maybe Oblinger can put his brain (worth several hundred thousand dollars, no less) to use, and realize that he needs to send a message. Send those racists to Student Conduct or turn them over to our fine city police. Do something.

Derek Adrian

junior, zoology