By Adriana M. Campos

The student-run “Writing on the Wall Project” spearheaded Diversity Week this year, challenging students and faculty to confront issues of intolerance and discrimination in society and their lives.

On Friday, Oct. 17, six months worth of time and effort by a group of diversity-driven students culminated in the destruction of the “Wall of Oppression,” an act meant to symbolize the breaking of barriers in society. From Oct. 6-9, 200 students and faculty members associated with various organizations attended six brick-painting sessions in the African-American Inst-

itute, the Snell Library Quad and Speare Cafeteria, where they decorated bricks to represent instances of intolerance in their lives or the lives of people they know.

Margot Ferencz, a freshman geology major, heard about the project through the Northeastern University Allied Student Coalition (NUASC) and volunteered to supervise the brick painting in Speare Cafeteria.

“When I heard about [the Wall of Oppression], I thought it was an absolutely great idea, so I decided to help,” Ferencz said.

The project took on a more personal meaning for Ferencz, who is also involved in the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and the Asian Student Union (ASU).

“I’m multi-racial and I think it’s important that we learn to accept everybody, especially in the U.S.,” she said.

Following speeches by President Richard Freeland and Donnie Perkins, dean and director of the office of affirmative action and diversity, during the Oct. 14 opening ceremony for the “Wall of Oppression,” the first of 300 bricks were placed into position in the Snell Library Quad. Freeland recalled witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream Speech” in Washington, D.C. in 1963.

“We’ve learned a lot in the 40 years since that famous and wonderful March on Washington … and so we gather here today … as a journey on those principles continues,” Freeland said.

Throughout the continuing week, as bricklayers continued to build the wall, students passing through the quad stopped to read the messages on the brick: “Dirty Mex-

ican,” “FOB,” “God Hates Fags” and “Towel Head” were but a few of the insults covering the wall.

Freshman business administration major Jason Piette thought the wall carried a powerful message.

“A lot of these things we hear everyday and don’t think about what they could mean to different types of people,” said Piette, as he watched the wall being built on opening day. “It’s definitely powerful.”

On Friday, Oct. 17, the wall came down.

Students and faculty members gathered in the library quad to destroy the wall of hate. Following speeches by Kwamina Panford, the associate vice provost for academic opportunity and diversity and chair of the African American studies department, and Finessa Slater, a middler psychology major who spearheaded the project and acted as student adviser, onlookers were asked to grab onto 30 ropes extending from the wall.

As Slater counted down from 10, black, white, Hispanic, Indian and Asian participants, clad in business suits, designer clothes and tattered jeans, readied themselves to yank the ropes together, and as Slater yelled “Pull!” the bricks shattered at their feet.

After closing speeches by African American Studies Associate Professor Robin Chandler and Slater, spectators were encouraged to share their thoughts about diversity and oppression on stage. Doolie Wilkins, a senior theatre major advised the crowd to focus on the love people share rather than their differences.

“I’m a man of color who has experience with racism and oppression in America,” Wilkins said later. “When [the wall] went down, I felt very emotional. There was this feeling in my stomach … I just can’t explain it.”

Slater, who had been organizing and planning the project since attending an on-campus hate crime presentation in January, was also combating emotions after the deconstruction.

“I’m glad that the Northeastern community reacted so well and that they appreciated the symbolism behind it,” said Slater, who, along with a team of student coordinators, used a $2000 grant from the Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity and donations from various campus organizations to fund the event. Slater said that she was initially worried about funding the event.

“Once I got the backing, I was just very persistent … I was surprised by how much support I got from the school. At first we were worried that we wouldn’t have enough money, but the support was overwhelming. For a Northeastern event, I’m very happy with the turnout; we had so many people pulling ropes,” said Slater as she fought back tears. “I’m just beaming right now.”