Post Classifieds
"Spread the Word" campaign seeks to combat intolerance
By Lakisha Forde
On March 8, 2012
The "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign is on campus to urge students to
pledge to stop saying the word "retard."
The campaign will feature a series of programs and activities being held in the
Campbell Student Union and within residence halls throughout March. Members
of Best Buddies, the organization behind the campaign, said they want students to
learn that people with disabilities are no different than the average person.
On March 7 and 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Spread the Word will be presenting in the
union. A disk jockey will play music and a popcorn machine will be available for
students in the Campbell Student Union. There will also be a banner for students to
sign and pledge to stop using "the R-word."
"It is an international campaign and this is the first time we are making it a large
event at Buffalo State," said Kelly Farrell, president of Best Buddies.
Farrell, a junior majoring in speech-language pathology, said the variety of activities
will be both fun and meaningful for students.
"We are having programs in the residence halls where students can experience what
it is like to have a physical disability. They will also be able to go online and take that
pledge as well," Farrell said.
In one activity, students will be strapped to a wheelchair and perform normal
exercises to get them to see what having a disability is like.
Jonathan Pollino, a junior majoring in exceptional education and elementary
education, serves as co-chair of the Spread the Word campaign, as well as the
secretary of Best Buddies.
"The main focus is to reach as many students possible," he said.
According to the international campaign's official website, www.r-word.org, the use
of the word "retard" has become hate speech. The word is being used today to insult
people as the equivalent of being called "dumb" or "stupid," the site said.
Some students, like junior Brandon Dunkley, say the use of the word has gotten too
casual within society.
"I feel the word ‘retard' has become too socially acceptable," he said. Dunkley, a
hospitality major, also said students need to be more aware and hopes the campaign
reduces ignorance.
Best Buddies is an international organization that pairs students and volunteers
with those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization
has a chapter on Buffalo State's campus, which not only involves students building
relationships, but also has a hand in putting together events and participating in
movements and campaigns like this one.
Best Buddies is working with different organizations on campus for the "Spread the
Word" campaign. These include Council for Exceptional Children, Pride Alliance,
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Women's Rugby, among other groups.
Melissa Ruiz, a junior majoring in television and film arts and president of Pride
Alliance, says that by collaborating on the campaign, her organization hopes to
makes people understand the word should not be used.
"I think people use it so freely they do not realize it is an offensive word," she said.
Ruiz said Pride Alliance deals with the same issue of misuse when it comes to the
word "gay." She said people do not realize the words they choose to say freely have
a greater meaning behind them.
"There are people who are around when other people use it and are hurt by the
context it seems to be used in," Ruiz said.
Both Farrell and Pollino say even though they are trying to reach as many students
as they can, the most important thing is that they can walk away with receiving a
message.
"We just hope people can change their opinion about people with disabilities,"
Farrell said.
"Some people tend to see people with disabilities as lesser or below them. We hope
that people who take the pledge and then say the r-word, or hear someone saying it
can stop themselves and say ‘That is not what I am supposed to do.'"
Lakisha Ford can be reached by email at bscrecord@gmail.com.
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