Attn. President Barefoot:

     We, as students, are very conscious of the how important it is to promote diversity here at Babson. Only in a diverse environment will students have the opportunity to obtain various and rich contributions in anything we do, whether it may be as small as a simple conversation or even a group project. From the perspective of students who have experience in organizing a number of cultural and multicultural activities on campus, we know how difficult it is to coordinate and even more to get individuals to attend such functions.
     Therefore, we, the NAACP, Babson Chapter, the Babson Brazilian Association, AMAN, BAPSA and BLAF are proposing that you reallocate some space, or allocate any new space to be built, for all cultural organizations. As it stands now, the Black Student Union (BSU) is the only group who has an office. By no means are we offended by this, however it seems as if the college views the BSU as the most important cultural organization, ignoring other African American organizations as well as all other cultural organizations. In the space we are proposing, it would be ideal if it were one large space with desks and a computer for each organization and one shared printer. Additionally, there should be some space in the middle with a large table and chairs for inter-organizational communication as well as a place to hold each organization's meetings. We envision something like the undergraduate hatchery. By having an office space, all cultural groups could communicate easier, collaborate on events, and keep all organizational material in one place ensuring the longevity of each organization, thereby further enriching the Babson community.
    Thank you for your time. We hope to be able to meet with you to discuss our proposal soon before the end of the school year.

UPDATES:

4/24 - President Barefoot directs us to Tonia Blackwell, Office of Student Affairs, and Christopher Kandus, Office of Campus Life.

4/24 - NAACP sends letter to Toni and Chris.

4/25 - Chris says he will look into it.

4/30 - NAACP asks Cris for an update.

May 3, 2003

RE: MINOR DRUG OFFENDERS AND STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

Dear Edward Kennedy, (D - MA) senator@kennedy.senate.gov
        Kerry, John - (D - MA) john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov
        Barney Frank - 4th District Representative

     We are writing to urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to work for the repeal of the current law that says that if you need some financial help in order to go to college, one drug conviction can make you temporarily ineligible, and multiple convictions may lead to a permanent bar on receiving aid. Specifically, I hope that you will co-sponsor and support H.R. 685 in the House or introduce a companion bill in the Senate.
      While the goal of this law, to ensure that drug dealers do not set up shop on our nations college campuses with federal backing, was laudable, the result is in fact racially and economically discriminatory and adversely impacts tens of thousands of lower-income young adults. In fact, as a result of this law, as many as 95 THOUSAND young men and women, a disproportionate number of whom are racial and ethnic minorities and the vast majority of whom come from families with total annual incomes of less than $30,000, though they've paid their debt to society, are being unfairly and unnecessarily denied access to a higher education, the only sure way to end the cycle of drug addiction, crime, violence poverty and incarceration. Instead of affecting major drug dealers, the group this law was intended to affect, this provision has in-fact primarily impacted students convicted of minor possession and nonviolent related offenses.
     The current law has affected African American and Hispanic American youth in devastatingly disproportionate numbers. According to reports from the US Department of Justice and the US Department of Health and Human Services, people of color commit drug offenses at a rate proportional to our percentage of the US population, over 25% for African Americans and Hispanic Americans combined. Yet almost 75% of the people charged in this nation with a drug offense are either Hispanic or African American.
      To predicate educational assistance on laws of dubious racial integrity is not only un-American, but it continues to condemn individuals, as well as families and whole communities, to a life of hopelessness and despair. By denying individuals access to higher education, and basing it on laws that are carried out in such a racially disparate manner, the United States Congress has made it even more difficult for the most vulnerable of Americans to ever have a real chance.
     Please do all that you can to see that this misguided and overly punitive law is repealed sooner rather than later. We look forward to hearing from you as to what your position is and how you think we can help resolve this serious issue.

Sincerely,

NAACP, Babson College Chapter