Despite widespread negative coverage of a bulletin board that shames ‘privileged’ students, Appalachian is leaving the board in place.

From The Appalachian.

University Housing defends East Hall bulletin board amidst controversy

University Housing said they will not take down a bulletin board posted in East Residence Hall by a resident assistant, despite a continuing amount of controversy and concern on campus.

Reginald Gravely, a resident assistant on the second floor of East Hall, made a bulletin board on his hall that encouraged students to “Check Your Privilege.” The board discussed cisgender, white, male, able-bodied, Christian and heterosexual privilege, which gained media attention last week in the publications Campus Reform and Young Conservatives.

According to University Housing, the board is factual and accurate and therefore has not been taken down.

“There are many purposes of bulletin boards in residence halls: educational, informative and some will be fun,” said Vickie Hawkins, associate director of University Housing-Residence Life. “We do not have any evidence that the RA designed this bulletin board for any other reason than to educate residents.”

Hawkins said Residence Life staff are educated on the topic of diversity, social justice and privilege, and that staff is prepared to facilitate and process those conversations.

However, for others, the conversation has sparked even more concern. On the Appalachian Social Justice Educators Facebook page, admins warned students of color against going anywhere alone as a result of the anger surrounding the bulletin board.

Mary Lyons, president of ASJE and senior art education and nonprofit management major, said that ASJE members heard and saw things that caused them to create the post.

“I don’t feel personally attacked,” Lyons said. “But on a day-to-day basis I am seen as an outsider and an intruder.”

Laurel Littler, junior commercial photography major, who spoke to Campus Reform about the board, has received negative feedback from strangers via Facebook. She said words have been put in her mouth, and she does not believe in some of the things she is quoted as saying.