Letter: University must listen better to minority concerns

I am writing on behalf of the University Task Force on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Matters. We have been following the campus events resulting from The Chronicle's decision to publish an advertisement written by David Horowitz regarding reparations for slavery in this country. Judging by the outpouring of emotion from the African-American community on campus, The Chronicle's decision to run the ad, most especially without distancing itself from the ad's contents, hit an understandably sore nerve regarding the place of racial minorities on this campus.

As representatives of the LGBT community at Duke, we understand what it feels like to have falsehoods about one's community publicly stated and accepted without question. We understand what it is like to feel that one's place in the Duke community is tenuous, to feel that the institution is not really behind you despite what the institutional leadership says.

This incident highlights the ways that Duke needs to embrace its guiding principle of diversity and empower the racial minority community as a true and important part of the Duke community. We hope that the administration will use this opportunity to make fundamental changes in the way it listens and responds to the racial minorities on this campus. We offer our sincere support to the racial minorities on this campus-your presence at Duke enriches our lives and we are glad you are here.

Laura Lewis-Tuffin

Chair, University Task Force on LGBT Matters