Can the name of an ice cream help or hurt an important cause?
From Dave Westol and Kim Novak in response to Let’s Leave Ben & Jerry’s Out of the Hazing Conversation:
While this issue may indeed seem a “10” on a scale with “1” being the most important…it remains important. Along with a number of friends and colleagues (including Scott) I will be hitting the road this week to speak about hazing on campuses. And I know three things for sure about hazing: It usually begins with little things; it is always minimized by its proponents; and college students are coming to us pre-hazed and expecting to be hazed. The name of an ice cream flavor may seem inconsequential until we put that into the mix of other dynamics. I certainly can’t attribute actions regarding the change of a flavor to a reduction in hazing. But I was one of those who sent a message to B & J and if they have only received three and they are contemplating a discussion and possible change after their large meeting, then someone is listening. Thanks, Scott, for your thoughts–eloquent as always.
In response, Kim Novak says:
Thank you Dave for your continued commitment to this issue & for weighing in on the B&J chatter. Thank you Scott for continuing to be a voice of change for K-12 and collegiate communities. The quote from Dave’s post, “it is always minimized by its proponents” is important, just as recognizing that the B&J Chatter is about more than a rightfully angry parent, this is about change, incremental complex change in how people see hazing, how they understand hazing and how they talk about hazing. Hank Nuwer has LONG been an advocate for us to all stop minimizing hazing and I love that he continues to fight the fight no matter how small the win may be perceived to be. His passion is what has inspired many to join this fight years ago. My message has also gone to Ben & Jerry’s – I am glad they are considering a change, and perhaps, (like I hope those I will be speaking with this week) see that this is not a “Greek” issue whether talking campus change or frozen treat names…