Underlying Causes (Fred Speaking)
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I don't think that there is anywhere near as much racism on campus as some of you think. I continue to think that these incidents are the work of a rather small group of ill-mannered individuals. But no matter how we define the situation, it has underlying causes that a speech code does not address. That's why the impact of the code will be mainly cosmetic. At best it will make a few people feel better. It will leave the underlying causes untouched.

Although our politics differ enormously, my view is something like Vera's. I agree with her that racism on campus leads back to problems in the larger society. We differ, however, on what those problems are. I would point to the inferior education of most black children. And to understand that inferior education, I would point to the lack of a stable two-parent family that can guide a child through school and help the child to take advantage of the opportunities that exist. Vera would point to other social factors. In either case, a speech code doesn't begin to deal with the underlying problem.

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