This month I learned of yet another noose incident on a college campus. This time the noose was placed around the neck of a cardboard cut out of Senator Barack Obama (http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-24-ore-campus_N.htm). Although any noose incident is disturbing, I found unusual hope in the institutional response of the administration and students at George Fox University. Unlike other noose incidents, especially those in corporate arenas, those at George Fox immediately condemned the incident and recognized that its mere occurrence demonstrated that they have more work to do in regards to diversity and inclusion. Rather than adopt a defensive posture or try to explain away the noose as a youthful prank, George Fox administrators reflected on what this meant about their university and how to improve its climate. How would your institution have responded?
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