Giving a voice to the silent majority: Creating a community where everyone can belong

Miami University will host a lecture on 'Hate and Hate Speech on Campus" at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at 152 Shideler Hall. The lecture is part of a multi-day series that includes workshops and activities centered around inclusivity and civil dialogue on college campuses.

Abby Ferber, a professor of sociology and women's and ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs will present the lecture as a part of the Sherry Corbett Memorial Lecture Series. It will be open to the public.

Fauzia Ahmed, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology, was one of the main driving forces behind organizing and fundraising for the event series. Ahmed is also a member of the University President's Strategic Planning Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee at Miami.

In an interview, Ahmed said she is impressed with University President Greg Crawford because of his efforts to elevate the issue of diversity and inclusion at Miami.

"We need an umbrella over all the people who believe in peace and justice and love across difference," Ahmed said. "I also felt that this event would bring people together in a journey of hope."

Ahmed said that she was overwhelmed by the community's enthusiasm for the event. Twenty-five different groups, ranging from student organizations to the President's Office, have contributed to it. She added that now is the perfect time to educate students on the issues of racism and discrimination that many Americans face today.

"Hope and courage ... are tangible assets, and they need to be shared, so this two-day event is really about sharing hope and sharing courage," Ahmed said.

Ahmed said she has has long seen a need for an event like this on Miami's campus, pointing to a culture of "you don't belong here" towards minority groups at Miami. She hopes this lecture will help educate students on building a non-discriminatory climate on campus.

"Things are said and done here that, had the campus been more diverse, people would have thought twice about that [hateful speech]," Ahmed said."Our purpose should be to create an environment where everyone has the possibility of being happy. Otherwise, what's the point? It really isn't very difficult to do if you really think about it and if you really really want to do it."

angevims@miamioh.edu