Lisa beat me to it. Hear, hear. It is not the prerogative of the majority to tell the minority that everything's fine. I have been hearing loud and clear for four years that everything is NOT fine for all students at Uni. Yes, editors, I agree that Uni is a fantastic place, and far more comfortable for all sorts of people than any other school I'm aware of anywhere. But, please, recognize that some students have faced significant obstacles. The evidence for that? They're telling you they have. If you have never had the experience of living in an environment where you are an obvious minority for an extended period of time, I highly recommend it. I have had that gift twice in my lifetime. Once, when I was 20 and was a student at the University of Hawaii. There, white folks from the mainland are treated with a smile at the big resorts, but out in the neighborhoods and on campus, local people have a different take (and a different way of interacting) with us intruders. From 2001 to 2003, I worked at an all-male, all African-American school in Chicago, and so I was frequently the only woman and the only white person in a meeting or a gathering. I learned a lot in those 2 years about white privilege, and how much we "majority" people do not have to pay attention to "minority" culture. Being immersed in the African American community was quite humbling for me, who thought I knew so much about race. The first and most important step towards true nurturing is to recognize and acknowledge that we cannot define another person's reality. If someone is telling you that they are uncomfortable, THEY ARE. I applaud the students who are willing to do this very difficult work, and thank them for helping us at Uni talk more openly about these deep and potentially divisive issues. And, editors, I share your love for our school, and your belief that we are capable of approaching our differences in a thoughtful manner.