“We’re actually one of the few institutions that is responding to racism,” says Kian.

But some thought that Casteen did not respond fast enough.

“Casteen had to receive pressure from different groups to make a response,” BSA President Blake says.

Blake also says that she hoped the university’s efforts to fight prejudice would not end with the black ribbons.

But she added, “It is an essential step to raise awareness.”

And almost all of the students and administration officials interviewed by The Crimson say that heightened awareness and discussion about race is an essential part of fighting bigotry.

Favreau, though, says he worried that focusing too much attention on the recent series of incidents might prove counterproductive.

“A lot of people I’ve talked to feel it is a good message to get out, but by promoting it you are publicizing it and giving the perpetrator the publicity he wants,” he says.

Both Favreau and Kian say that most students do not think the racist attacks were the work of anyone at UVa.

And students were quick to defend the university, which has drawn criticism lately for being a racist Southern institution in light of the incidents.

“It’s not a problem with the school, but with the few who are committing these acts,” Austria says. “It’s not that the university is racist.”

POSSIBLE REFORMS

The university requires freshmen to attend a diversity program entitled “Different Voices, Common Threads” during orientation, Blake says. The program consists of a series of skits and cultural events that address the history of integration and discrimination not only concerning minorities but concerning homosexuals as well.

“They tried to make us more aware of how self-segregating our school is,” says UVa sophomore Emily A. Keith.

Blake says that despite the classes, sometimes the administration does not run the school enough and that leads to issues about racism falling by the wayside.