Racist remarks still prominent

Racism isn't new.

It's something that has existed since the beginning of time.

Since U.S. government forced Native Americans from their homeland in the late 1700s.

Since members of the Ku Klux Klan began burning crosses in the yards of African-American families in the 1860s.

Since more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans were relocated to designated internment camps in the 1940s.

Since Arab-Americans were demonized by society following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

And it's something that continues to happen every day.

Racism surrounds us. In the U.S., one hate crime is reported every hour, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

At Ottawa University, we're not immune to these acts of hatred and racism. They can, and have, happened right here in our community.

It's an embarrassment to think that fellow students would slam their peers during their own time, let alone a campus organized event.

The hurt caused by slanderous phrases is serious, and though we may not see it immediately, the damage is lasting.

Racism isn't new. But that doesn't make it right.

Ottawa University should be a community of open-minded and well-educated individuals who recognize the seriousness of racism and strive to promote awareness about its powerful and sometimes deafening effect.

It's time to stand up against the racism amongst us.

The anonymity of social media outlets, or secret degradation in social settings is cowardice, but we aren't afraid.

We know racism is wrong, so it is time for our generation to recognize and make the move into the future.

A future that is without racism.

We're young. We weren't around when some of the worst acts of racism happened in our country. But we've read about them, we've heard about them, we've probably even witnessed racism at some point in our lives.

But we shouldn't have to experience it at Ottawa University.

Maybe we can't prevent racism and hatred throughout the world, but we can at least make our school, our university, our community a place where racism and hatred is not tolerated.
Racism isn't new.

Actually, to us, it's getting pretty old.