Bandes column subject of talk

Tension was high Tuesday night as more than 300 students gathered in Manning Hall to discuss racial profiling.

Several campus organizations - including Masala, Carolina Hispanic Association and the Black Student Movement - decided that holding an open forum was necessary to address issues brought up in a Sept. 13 column by former Daily Tar Heel columnist Jillian Bandes.

"This whole thing is about being able to talk about critical issues," said Archie Ervin, associate provost of the office of diversity and multicultural affairs. Ervin served as a panelist during the discussion.

"That's what a university is all about - creating opportunities for students to engage in constructive dialogue."

The night began with panelists sharing their views of whether the U.S. will have to resort to racial profiling in order to protect safety.

"I don't think we're going to have to go to it," said panelist Bushra Bhatti, vice president of the Muslim Student Association. "There are so many places you could stop before that point."

Panelist Brandon Hodges, president of BSM, said racial profiling is dangerous because it targets only one group and leaves out others who are known threats to the community.

"Some of the people not counted in racial profiling are committing some of the most heinous crimes in America," Hodges said.

Many students shared personal stories of friends, family members and even themselves being subject to racial profiling.

Reem Semaan, a sophomore biology major, said she has been searched at airports simply because of her ethnicity.

"They immediately take me to the side," she said. "Are you saying we need to be searched even further?"

But Bandes, who served as a panelist, said she stands by her belief that personal searches at airports are necessary.

"It is unfortunate, certainly," she said. "In the interest of everyone's safety, sometimes it's necessary."

Bandes said that profiling is justifiable when there is suspicious behavior, a past history of crime or actions that bring about the attention of law enforcement.

But many in the audience didn't buy her explanation.

"If you look at every group's history of their actions, there wouldn't be a single group not racially profiled," said Ciji Dodds, a senior journalism major.

Others pointed out that individuals are so culturally diverse that it is impossible for anyone to determine their ethnicity based on appearances.

"It's the cracks in the system that have caused people to have such an emotion-filled response," Hodges said.

Sherief Khaki, a representative from the Arab club, said he thinks the forum was a step in the right direction for handling difficult issues, but that it doesn't change people's ideas.

"I think it takes more effort to change people's values," said Khaki, who said his quotes in Bandes' column were taken out of context. "It's a step, but more needs to happen."

 

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.