Students, community members hold campus-wide protest against use of R-word
‘Spread the word to end the word,’ Kayla McKeon shouted behind her booth at Schine Student Center as several students walked in her direction.
Some went past without a second glance, but a handful stayed behind to pick up a flier, grab a water bottle or sign a pledge. As the small crowd grew in number, McKeon spoke to those gathered about what exactly ‘the word’ was.
‘We want to end the R-word as ‘retard,” said McKeon, a member of the Self-Advocacy Network in Syracuse. ‘We’re changing it to ‘respect’ now.’
In order to educate the public, organizers at the Quad, College of Law and Schine passed out more than 2,000 fliers detailing information about the Self-Advocacy Network and how the careless use of the R-word affects those who live defined by its limits. About 400 buttons and 200 water bottles were distributed as well.
Now in its second year, this national campaign to end the use of the word ‘retard’ in casual speech was brought to the SU campus by the Self-Advocacy Network, a group organized by people with disabilities to empower in both professional and educational opportunities.
Supporters came from students in the School of Education, local high school students, members of the Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee and various residents of communities in Central New York to comprise a total of 50 to 60 participants.
‘The Syracuse community is packed this year, and I loved every bit of it,’ McKeon said. ‘This is a great way to reach people because they see us walking around with posters and think, ‘Why don’t we go see what they have to offer?”
Rebecca Leonard, a senior dual major in policy studies and art history, was on her way to grab a coffee in the food court when she saw the posters and stopped to see what was going on.
Leonard said the amount her friends use the word bothers her, but she feels she can’t tell them not to use because she doesn’t know anyone mentally disabled and hasn’t been affected by the disability.
J’Lisa DerWeer, a junior exercise science major, also took a pledge at the booth and said she felt closely connected to the cause due to her own background.
‘Being an African-American, I understand how much words hurt,’ she said. ‘I think when the R-word is used improperly, it’s not to victimize them really, but that’s where it started, and it’s still used in a sense like that. As a minority, it makes me see what they see in a way.’
Chris Paronis, secretary of the Self-Advocacy Network, agreed that use of the R-word needs to be stopped.
‘(For) many, many years, people with disabilities have been called stupid, retarded and dumb,’ Paronis said. ‘We want to be treated with respect, and this event will go on until we reach the point that we don’t need to do this anymore.’
Published on March 3, 2010 at 12:00 pm
