Willamette University Pledge Responses

Where do we fall in our society? How do others treat us based on assumptions and how do we internalize these messages? How am I privileged—or oppressed—by the color of my skin, my gender or my sexual orientation? These are some of the many questions that race around my mind when I read through Willamette University’s Pledge. Yet on the heels of arguably the most historic presidential inauguration in this country’s history, it is ever important that our society truly engage in a dialogue around these questions.

In reading through the pledge, I think of the important work that members of privileged groups need to do. White people, including white antiracists, need to do to understand and combat racial privilege. Men need to confront misogyny and sexism in not just the lives of other men, but in their own as well. Heterosexual couples must interrogate the sexism and heterosexism inherent to the institution of marriage, and whether this practice is both reasonable and fair.

But then I think of how these identities, and many others, intersect in different ways on different levels for different people. This “matrix of domination,” as Patricia Hill Collins appropriately termed, is significant as each one of us has our own matrix of privilege and oppression and only when we begin to truly explore this matrix will we be able to realize the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others.

Lastly, this pledge conjures up thoughts of revolutionaries and radicals. Whether it be the leader of a revolution, the community organizer uniting a movement, or a mentor empowering the youth, I am reminded to hold onto dreams of liberation, revolution and freedom. As Robin D.G. Kelley writes in his book Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination, “Without new visions, we don’t know what to build, only what to knock down. We not only end up confused, rudderless and cynical, but we forget that making a revolution is not a series of clever maneuvers and tactics but a process that can and must transform us.”

The Willamette University Pledge should encourage us all to dream of liberation, revolution and freedom. Reading, digesting, signing, and then digesting some more is just the start.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 09:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Willamette Pledge

As a Member of the Willamette University Community:

I believe that every student, faculty and staff member contributes to the diverse identities and life experiences that compose our campus community;

I believe that it is my responsibility to strive for a safe inclusive environment, one free of hate and prejudice on our campus;

I believe that my thoughts and behaviors can either move us toward or away from respect, understanding and a more inclusive community;

I believe that it is my responsibility to address intentional and unintentional instances of hurt, prejudice, hate, and stereotypes.

To Honor this Pledge:

I will continue to provide academic and disability support to as many students as possible of all races, needs and queries.

I will continue to promote my office as a safe space for all students to freely express their feelings of intimidation, disrespect and distrust.

I will continue to hold myself accountable for my impact on individuals in the community and continue to reach out to as many community citizens as possible.

Call to Action:

In submitting this pledge, I agree to strive to carry out my responsibilities in the continual process of self-reflection and engaging of others in the pursuit of a more understanding, respectful and accepting community.

JoAnne M. Hill, Director
Disability & Learning Services

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In my position here, I try to integrate the central tenets of the Willamette Pledge into the service delivery model of Counseling Services. That is to say, creating safe place, free from barriers of any kind that allows students the freedom to express and explore their values is a primary goal. I want Counseling Services to be seen as a respectful and safe space on campus.

On a more personal note, I endeavor to reflect on and challenge my own biases, intentional or unintentional, conscious or not, so that I might contribute to a safe and inclusive campus environment. I also plan to include my children in as much campus programming as is appropriate for them so that they are aware at an early age of the need for continued reflection and integration of hate free values.

Again, thanks for the reminder. Hope your semester goes well.

Don

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Reading the pledge and reflecting on my personal experience here at Willamette, I'm not quite sure how I feel about its impact on me, or the community as a whole. It's hard for me to pinpoint very much that's changed over the past year or so.

I know the university as an institution has implemented gender-neutral housing in some areas, and was recently recognized as the most sustainable in the nation, but I'm still unsure of how to view the university's current stance on the Delta Drywall controversy. I feel like we could be doing much more, both as an institution and a community.

After all the controversy and deep emotional reactions of the past two years, the same problems remain, and hopefully more people are beginning to understand them and engage with them. Institutionally though, I see little in the way of long-term plans to further our commitment to diversity and social justice. I hear a lot of talk about expansion, but wonder if that simply means the Willamette Bubble is going to grow bigger, and what that means in terms of gentrification. I also wonder about the university's commitment to minority students. I wonder about the support OMA clubs get outside of the OMA; wonder why the CDSJ's webpage hasn't been updated in so long; why the Women's Resource Center is still a converted storage closet; why all the education around these issues seems to happen through ResLife and a handful of departments and student organizations; along with a hundred other things. I also wonder why the fitness center renovation and a new admissions building are taking precedence over all of that.

It's been pretty quiet this past year, but I don't quite know what that means. Maybe people are taking time to adjust, reflecting quietly as things settle down. I'm hoping this is just a necessary prelude to greater action. But I don't know who is still engaging in the conversations, pushing themselves to learn more and get involved in changing things here in our own community. Seems like a lot of polite silence going around lately. I'd like to hear the voices and see the faces of everyone making change on this campus. Maybe I'm just not aware of the change that's happening, slowly on this campus. All I know is that while we wait, another friend has grown tired of waiting and transferred to someplace better; someplace that I still occasionally wish I'd gone instead of Willamette. I still have friends telling me about the hurt and frustration caused by the apathy and inaction from what still seems like the majority of our community. I feel it too. All the same, I guess there aren't a whole lot of options; nothing to do but to keep trying and keep hoping people do the same. Here's to hoping for a better future for us all, and the generations to come. Care. Speak. Act!

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The idea of a pledge is to make a personal commitment, a kind of vow to behave and live a certain way, uphold certain values, and believe in something. This pledge is particularly strong in asking the signer to make a personal commitment, an active commitment to the community and our peers. Two of the statements struck me as I read and re-read our pledge, and as areas that we may be lacking in individual efforts in our Willamette community.

First, "I believe that it is my responsibility to address intentional and unintentional instances of hurt, prejudice, hate, and stereotypes." I choose to be optimistic and hopeful in most instances, but I would like to see more people taking responsibility and stepping up. I think the unintentional is probably the most difficult to counter, because we live in the culture of nice where we try to be polite and non-confrontational, but how often do we say something or do something to help educate against ignorance? We've got to step up and do each other a favor, help each other be better and keep working on ourselves.

The second stanza that struck me reads, "I will, with intention, strive to seek out, respect, understand and support the many identities of Willamette community members, thereby validating experiences that are different than my own." We can do better here--we need to encourage students to take classes that push us out of our comfort zones and force us to see the world from a different point of view. We need to stop accepting the white, heterosexual, dominant culture ideals and ways of thinking and doing as truth and the only option for our institution and the individuals that function within it. We have got to support the clubs and professors and staff members that are trying to teach around justice.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There’s a major part of me that I’d like to change. It’s something I could have control over, but rather than learn how to control it, I’ve let it control me – year after year. There are spurts of time when I think I have it beat; during these times, I’m happier and have a better outlook. But I have no sooner begun to modify my habits than I realize that I’m slipping back into my old routine. I’m so accustomed to the complacency of my “normal” life that the struggle to regain control and continue progressing becomes too difficult. My personal struggle loosely parallels the fight for social justice. We know that we’d be better off with a more equitable, hate-free society. We may even know what it would take to get us there. But the act of beginning that change, of attacking our normalcy, too often leaves us defeated. We regress to the way things were and are satisfied to live life as we have been. Perhaps we’re too concerned with how others will construe our words to embark on the road to change. Constructive conversation is an undeniable necessity to seeking progress, but how can we have valuable discussions when we’re concerned with what others will think of us? Along those lines, it’s hard to describe how much I struggled internally before deciding to write this reflection. I was concerned with how my comments would be perceived by the Willamette community, with whether I had anything valuable to contribute, and whether my words would be misconstrued or criticized. I had to stop myself and analyze why I was worried. I knew I would choose to submit my reflection anonymously, so I didn’t run the risk of having people judge me based on the words I’d chosen. But why would I even think I would be judged? My experience with Willamette is that it consists largely of a community of individuals who respect the views and opinions of those around them; however, my experience also tells me that it is human nature to place our own values or judgments on the comments and actions of others. We will take a person’s words and make assumptions about why we believe they were said, or what we think the person may have meant. Too often, we don’t even consider asking the person what he or she truly did mean. And if we are the one who spoke or wrote the words that are later judged, it’s too easy for us to become defensive when questioned about our motives or true meaning, rather than engage in constructive conversation. Among other things, this reflection process has emphasized for me the importance of taking a risk when sharing with others; of trusting that they can and will be active, thoughtful listeners who will serve to aid personal as well as communal development. And no, the irony (or is it hypocrisy?) of keeping my entry anonymous is not lost on me.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 03:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Willamette University Pledge conveys vital points that should be heeded by our campus community, but also raises a question of purpose. While the content of the Pledge is valid for its noble cause, it seems that guidelines set up do not honor the spirit of all the parts of Martin Luther King Jr.’s work. He strove for respect, understanding, and acceptance just as the Pledge does; however, his true dream was a vision of true equality in which people didn’t need to hesitate with a thought process of why they would treat someone with respect, but would automatically do it.

I am thankful to have something as this Pledge to give the campus a sense of safety, to let us strive to be a community that is “understanding, respectful, and accepting” but I urge others to treat this Pledge as an instinct, not a reminder. Treat others with respect, understanding and acceptance because they are human, not because the Pledge you signed says to.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Doesn't this celebration warrant a day off from classes, especially when Obama's inauguration is the next day...? Everyone I tell that we don't get this day off is shocked at the ignorance.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This pledge addresses many of the issues that I've been talking about in classes and many of the issues that have have been weighing down on my mind lately. I've been trying to look at the ways that I am privileged, and I've been trying to analyze the ways that I am marginalized.

I am a bisexual woman who sometimes identifies as genderless. Some things that offend me are when people make assumptions, and I'm not just talking about the typical assumptions. Many people have assumed that I am polyamorous, that I am sexual, that I will cheat on people with the other sex, and all the other ideas that people associate with bisexuals. But I have also faced the more subtle ones. The idea that gender is a binary. The idea that I must be straight right now, because I have a boyfriend. When people don't know my orientation, I also face the idea that I'm a sweet, vanilla, straight virgin. Which counts are right and which are wrong don't matter, because they're made without asking me, and sometimes without knowing me.

On the other hand, I am white and wealthy. I try to see these as the privileges I've been told they are. However, I don't fit in with any sort of 'white' culture. I fit in best with Japanese culture, in most cases, though I have no reason to do so. My money has given me privileges, yes, but I would rather not have it. I want very little, and I donate almost everything that I don't spend on food, books, or gifts. I am taking care of two children in third world countries with that money, and I am still made to feel ashamed of it. My closest friends throughout my lives have had less money than I do. I don't fit in with wealthy people.

I am the ultimate exception. People silence me in classes, saying that my experience doesn't count, because it's not the norm, and derails discussions. In high school, my friends were all open about sex, their kinks, their experiences. It was an exceptional school. When I got here, I found that many of my friends – almost all of my friends – would be thought of as sick or disturbed by my new classmates, because they're into bondage. I have been told that women cannot consent to bondage because they are socially conditioned to be submissive. How does that explain my friends, among whom most of the girls were doms, and most of the boys were subs? What about switches? What about those who top from the bottom?

I wish that I could remain anonymous in this message, because these subjects are so personal to me, but I am absolutely certain that people will recognize what I've said, and any cover will be blown. I'm scared to share this with everyone.

However, I needed to bring up the subject, and I needed to ask people to talk about it. These topics I've listed above have led to many nights of sobbing, to days of feeling conflicted and ashamed. They don't have to. If people could talk freely about these, instead of making assumptions – whether based in being conservative or being liberal – then my life would be less difficult. I hope that day comes.

What a relief it is to get this off of my chest.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 12:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love this pledge and what it really contributes to. For me that is place of expanding social well being which based on my research, has a direct connection to financial and environmental well-being.

I have one suggestion: I would replace the word "validating" with "legitimizing" because I believe that only the person who has the experience can validate it. On the other hand, it is powerful when we see each other as legitimate in our own world.

Thank you for sharing this!

Anne

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year the pledge was featured at the law school and many of our students signed it. It was the first time I had read it. My immediate thought was that the pledge should be framed and posted prominently in all classrooms or at least the largest ones at the law school. In addition, I think it should be featured in all our publications.

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Willamette University Community,

As we begin our Winter Break, The Willamette Pledge committee invites you to participate in a campus-wide educational component of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration 2009.

We invite you to write a letter of response to the Willamette Pledge articulating what it means for you in your experience in the campus community. Your response might explore areas relating to one or more of the following questions:

• What issues are raised by the ideas put forth in the Pledge?
• How does the Pledge relate to your daily experience in classrooms, social settings, work and interactions with your peers?
• What, if anything, would need to change in order to align our community with the ideas put forth in the Pledge?
• What does the Pledge mean in terms of your field, department, committee work, daily work, study, residence hall, club or student organization, classroom, social circles, individual experiences, and/or involvement on campus?

Our goal is to have as many individuals engage in reflection through this activity as possible. We are making this call for participation to the entire Willamette Community: faculty, administrative staff, classified staff, and students—both undergraduate and graduate. A selection of letters will be printed in a special publication that will be distributed during MLK Week in January 2009. Additionally, letters will be posted on Thursday and Friday of MLK week as part of the activities related to the Pledge signing and will be posted on a website dedicated to this community dialogue.

Letters (of approximately 500 words in length) may be sent via email to wu-pledge@willamette.edu or may be sent anonymously via the following website:

http://www.willamette.edu/dept/oma/mlk/pledge/index.html

We hope to have as broad of a range of perspectives as possible in an attempt to open a dialogue in which participants gain a better understanding of our community. We sincerely hope you will add your voice to the conversation as we seek to learn from each other.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Joshua Bilbrew, via email or telephone (ext. 6536), or Jeani Bragg, via email or telephone (ext. 6296).

Thank you in advance for your time and for taking part in this vital community dialogue.

Sincerely,

2009 MLK Celebration Committee

Posted by Joshua R Bilbrew at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)