Chatham Student Activism Blog

The following is an email sent to the staff of the campus newspaper, The Communiqué, from the editor in chief:

The meeting was about the bros parties that were called racist and the alleged racist hate mail Jessica Byrd received.

The truth is:

bros parties are not racist events – at least not the one that took place at CMU’s frat. Three of our staff members attended the party – they will write explanation letters about the event. Two black students attended the event – both of them will write letters to the editor about the event stating it was not racist – I spoke to both of them, they promised to write those letters. I am writing a news story on the 2 incidents, explaining bros parties, the alleged hate mail Jessica Byrd received – I am interviewing Esther, David Phillips, Jessica Byrd and Asia Mitchell, BSU President and whoever else needs to be interviewed – those 4 are the starting points. Next, we are writing a staff editorial on receiving those anonymous letters and Byrd’s involvement (starting a campaign to write those letters, telling the org’s members not to sign them – we have proof of this). We will mention certain accusations from the letters and prove them wrong. We will take a stand on anonymous letters, repeating Esther’s own quote in defense of Jessica Byrd’s receiving an anonymous letter that “anonymity presents a threat to our community.” Given the timing of Byrd’s receiving an anonymous letter, it should be a very interesting editorial. We will also address how come the bros party was labeled as a racist incident, while in fact it wasn’t. Lastly, Tony is going to write a piece on those anonymous letters, attacking his own students, who happen to be some of the smartest people on campus (that’s you!).

I want to make it very clear to everyone that these stories and the way we will deal with this is not to be discussed with anyone not belonging to the Communique. (Sitting at the cafeteria with two other staff members talking about this is not a good idea — you never know who’s listening).

Thanks,

________

Communiqué Editor in Chief