Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991 TAG: 9102130191
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG/ HIGHER EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Ira Gissen, who heads the league in North Carolina and Virginia, said Jewish alumni from the Richmond area requested that he visit Tech after they became concerned that incidents on and off campus could be affecting the quality of life for Jewish students.
"You can call painting a swastika on a freshman's dorm room bed an `incident,' " said Gissen, who lives in Norfolk.
"But statistics are abstract - they don't convey the hurt."
In fall of 1989, the Nazi symbol was painted on a loft in a Tech dorm.
On Halloween of last year, some members of Tech's Corps of Cadets dressed up in Nazi uniforms.
"You can call that an `incident,' but it's horrendous," Gissen said.
Thomas Goodale, vice president of student affairs, said officials talked to the cadets as soon as the matter was called to their attention.
Problems with insensitivity occur on college campuses across the state, Gissen said.
At one school, a parents' weekend was planned during a Jewish holiday, Gissen said.
A Tech recruiting drive was planned during another holiday.
"You're certainly not going to be able to recruit any Jewish students on those days," Gissen said.
About 750 Jewish students attend Virginia Tech.
Many school administrators are receptive when members of the Jewish community point out scheduling problems, Gissen said.
Goodale said Tech officials will make an effort to avoid scheduling events during Jewish holidays. But he said some conflicts may be unavoidable.
Professors are notified of Jewish holidays and are told to allow students to make up work they may miss while celebrating those holidays.
Students and faculty met with Gissen Sunday and Monday.
"It's the continuing issue of the campus climate that we're concerned with here," Goodale said.
"We're looking to find other resources and to get information from the best people we can."
by CNB