Spring Break
Power behind slurs to be discussed
Panel will not skirt around words
Sarah Jean Bresnahan/ Development Director
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: News
In Jeannie Ludlow's mind, a slur is a word or phrase used to derogate a group of people.
"A slur gets its power not from the actual word used, but rather, from the systems of power and oppression that shape our society," said Ludlow, English professor and coordinator of the Women's Studies program.
Ludlow, along with Dan Koteski, Mason Abernathy, DeMarlon Brown, Charrell Barksdale, Elizabeth Hood, Jamar Herrod, Justin Barrett and Yolanda Williams will be speaking at the panel discussion "Take It Back? A Panel Discussion on Reclaiming Slurs."
The panel will be at 7 tonight in Room 2030 of Lumpkin Hall.
The panelists are members of EIU Pride, the Black Student Union, the Asian American Association, Diversity Affairs and Women's studies.
The goal of the discussion is to dissect the pros and cons of reclaiming slurs, said Koteski, president of EIU Pride.
"This panel will speak to multicultural issues on a day-to-day level, often glossed over," Koteski said. "It will address an omnipresent subject matter for me. Not a week goes by on Eastern's campus that I don't hear reclaiming."
Herrod, a senior English major with a minor in African American studies, said people nowadays use slurs without knowing the full depth of what they are saying.
"This becomes problematic because the slur becomes universal and the context oftentimes becomes misconstrued as others use it as common language," Herrod said. "People need to understand the history behind it and why this may offend someone."
Elizabeth Hood, president of the Asian American Association, encourages people who attend the panel discussion to be honest and open.
"My main thing (for wanting to be a part of the panel is) so that people understand the power behind racial slurs," Hood said.
Panelists will be encouraged to say the actual words being discussed in their responses, and are asked to refrain from skirting around them by saying things like "the n-word," "the f-word," etc.
Sarah Jean Bresnahan can be reached at 581-7942 or at dennewsdesk@eiu.edu.
"A slur gets its power not from the actual word used, but rather, from the systems of power and oppression that shape our society," said Ludlow, English professor and coordinator of the Women's Studies program.
Ludlow, along with Dan Koteski, Mason Abernathy, DeMarlon Brown, Charrell Barksdale, Elizabeth Hood, Jamar Herrod, Justin Barrett and Yolanda Williams will be speaking at the panel discussion "Take It Back? A Panel Discussion on Reclaiming Slurs."
The panel will be at 7 tonight in Room 2030 of Lumpkin Hall.
The panelists are members of EIU Pride, the Black Student Union, the Asian American Association, Diversity Affairs and Women's studies.
The goal of the discussion is to dissect the pros and cons of reclaiming slurs, said Koteski, president of EIU Pride.
"This panel will speak to multicultural issues on a day-to-day level, often glossed over," Koteski said. "It will address an omnipresent subject matter for me. Not a week goes by on Eastern's campus that I don't hear reclaiming."
Herrod, a senior English major with a minor in African American studies, said people nowadays use slurs without knowing the full depth of what they are saying.
"This becomes problematic because the slur becomes universal and the context oftentimes becomes misconstrued as others use it as common language," Herrod said. "People need to understand the history behind it and why this may offend someone."
Elizabeth Hood, president of the Asian American Association, encourages people who attend the panel discussion to be honest and open.
"My main thing (for wanting to be a part of the panel is) so that people understand the power behind racial slurs," Hood said.
Panelists will be encouraged to say the actual words being discussed in their responses, and are asked to refrain from skirting around them by saying things like "the n-word," "the f-word," etc.
Sarah Jean Bresnahan can be reached at 581-7942 or at dennewsdesk@eiu.edu.
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