OPINION | Students’ apathy towards New Orleans is glaring
Tulane students have no issue with using New Orleans as a disposable playground.
September 16, 2020
At an institution where nearly 70% of the students come from the 20% richest families in America, it is easy to imagine that many Tulane students are out of touch with the majority of the world’s struggles. The Tulane bubble and the people contained inside of it were quite literally born to never have to experience true discomfort, their own or secondhand. But now, this ignorance and apathy is voluntary, and is becoming increasingly harmful to the New Orleans community.
Of course, students may witness struggle when they participate in voluntourism, or they might gain momentary insight into deep-seated cultural issues while swiping through an infographic on their friend’s Instagram story. They may even be enlightened during a sociology class, offering up a brilliant point in response to be met with nods of agreement from their classmates.
But in reality, these struggles are far from a priority to the student body. The case in point is happening right before the New Orlean’s community’s eyes, as thousands of students flocked back to campus for the school year. The reasons for returning to in-person instruction are not the issue. Many students simply missed their friends, wanted to have some semblance of structure, or were escaping an unsuitable environment.
The issue, however, lies in how many Tulane students treat the city they have returned to. Returning to campus to regain some normalcy is one thing. Fleeing a cushy home to “social distance” at bars and restaurants while adding to the spread of coronavirus infection in a marginalized city is entirely different.
Tulane may be “#1 Most Engaged in Community Service,” but its students do not care about the people that live in New Orleans.
Along with refraining from wearing masks in public places this semester, Tulane students started drawing attention to their apathy for marginalized communities earlier this summer. During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in June, there was a notable radio silence from a number of Tulane’s Greek life organizations. The organizations typically have no trouble flooding social media feeds with promotions about their single philanthropy, yet now seemed hesitant to demonstrate politically.
Many have no desire to advocate for local change, either. The lack of diversity in Greek life and sporadic support of Sodexo workers are obvious examples of problems Tulane students could easily have a hand in changing, but decide not to due to apathy.
What does this say about Tulane students? What sort of message are we sending to New Orleans citizens, 60% of whom are black? Far too large of a portion of the student body is uncomfortably content with coming into this city and using it as a playground to abandon after four years, regardless of the impact of their actions.
Tulane students are indebted to New Orleans as long as they reside in it. Being able to enjoy one of the most enriching cities in America while giving back to those who live in it seems like a fair exchange.
Local • Sep 27, 2020 at 12:02 pm
You’re the racist one “born and raised.” I’m black and unlike you I want to be working right now to support my family in the real economy. You’re the white savior keyboard warrior brat who is sitting at home typing out how black people dont want to work, black people need this and that, no! Why are you assuming that because of the color of my skin I am a victim? I’m probably going to be far more successful then you are while you sit around complaining and protesting while daddy’s money pays for your 70k tution. You’re the epitome of racist white savior privilege and I can’t wait until you get a reality check when the world doesn’t reward you for your ignorance.
Local Resident • Sep 27, 2020 at 11:55 am
Born and Raised, you are the ignorant one. Do you not understand that having jobs and a strong economy is correlated to health? Isolation is unhealthy and leads to mental health problems and suicide. You are probably some privileged out-of-state person writing this article yourself. I have spoken with many local residents uber drivers, blue collar workers who work pay check to pay check and are extremely grateful to now have some taste of their life back. No one can make it for themselves without a job. I’m assuming you’re one of those radical communist morons who think the government should just cut everyone a paycheck because they are too lazy to get off their a** and work. There’s no room in this world for people like you, after graduation your utopian fallacy gets stomped on by people who are more driven and less whiny than you are.
Born and Raised • Sep 25, 2020 at 7:59 pm
Amazing piece! Unlike the transplants and business elite in this comment section who think the economy is more important than people’s health, it is important to recognize the tolling effects of this pandemic on primarily black and brown workers at Tulane who show-up day in an day out attending to the needs of Tulane students. All this city cares about is money. Never the people putting in the hours to keep this place going. If some of the ignorant people in this comment section actually showed up to the protests instead of retrieving their information from a summarized news report, they would know that black and brown workers want PPE, higher wages, and safer working environments amidst the BS they’re constantly put through by people — like in this comment section — who care about profits over people. I find it very ironic that y’all can generalize a whole community of black and brown people by basically saying ‘Tulane provides jobs. They should be grateful,” rather than question why people should even be forced to return to work to begin with? Why y’all aren’t contributing to mutual aid funds or attending events to actually understand workers’ concerns?? Because I know good and well not one person in here has actually sat down and talked with the custodian workers, the café workers, or anyone in the LBC. Y’all obviously have nothing better to do with your miserable lives because this is the raw truth of Tulane University. Be it a pandemic or not, and just because you’re getting your table talk gossip from friends of friend’s children who go to Tulane doesn’t mean you’re observing what this student is observing. At the end of the day, y’all can return back to your privileged white lives and do whatever you want, but the workers at Tulane and in this city aren’t always granted that luxury. Please spare the huff and stop with the faux compassion. Your racism is showing.
Local Resident • Sep 22, 2020 at 11:32 am
Who are you to speak on behalf of the New Orleans community? I’m 90% positive you aren’t even from here and are speaking from your own privileged savior ideology. Myself and other local residents are grateful for the value Tulane creates in our local economy. If the students didn’t come back thousands would be out of work, living on welfare and struggling to get by. Contrary to your sheltered belief, the New Orleans community aren’t all vulnerable, mask wearing, sheltering at home people. We are real people with the same need to get back to work as the Tulane students are to get back to school. Tulane has done an EXCEPTIONAL job taking precautions and getting people back to work while keeping the numbers far below that of even the local area. If anything it’s our community that is more reckless than Tulane. Your ignorant privilege is showing
Emily • Sep 21, 2020 at 7:21 pm
The generalizations of Tulane students here are pure ignorance. The strong majority of people I’m in contact with that are enrolled on campus right now are closely following proper covid regulations. They don’t go to bars, they quarantine or isolate as recommended, and they wear masks.
And all this hate on Tulane students who are soo oblivious to these issues… aren’t you a Tulane student? Disproving your own point.
Sally • Sep 21, 2020 at 6:37 pm
Why does the opinion page of The Hullabaloo always slam Tulane students and the Administration? Your attitude towards students is so condescending and negative — and lumps ALL students in based on SOME students’ conduct. The virus numbers are down quite a bit from late August, and yet you continue to beat the same drum. You take no note of the mental and psychological effects of long-term isolation — which are real and very grave. How about highlighting all of the students who are being conscientious and following the school’s public health emergency protocols for a change? Your coverage says more about you than it does about the student body as a whole. If the Tulane students were as horrible as you say they are, they wouldn’t be, in large part, acting responsibly, thus keeping infection numbers low. Your bias is showing. Do better.
Wendy • Sep 20, 2020 at 10:39 pm
Incredibly disgusted by your ignorant and blatant categorization of Tulane students. How ignorant and dangerous of you to judge an entire community by the alleged actions of a few. Haven’t you learned that as this has been justifiably brought to light in recent protests and demonstrations? And who are you to judge or assess the student populations’ life experiences? Are you in our homes? Are you living our lives? Are you in our families learning values and respect? Clearly, you have not been exposed to either of those concepts. Your bitter resentment is not becoming nor will it employ positive change if that’s what you were hoping to achieve. It would only further this so called divide you accuse your community of displaying.
David • Sep 20, 2020 at 7:10 pm
Tulane is the 16th largest employer in New Orleans. Telling when someone has a grossly outsized perception.
Jules • Sep 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm
College students are not exactly known for their consideration of others not in their bubble. Never have been. However, isn’t Tulane the largest employer in New Orleans? The students return to campus and their frequenting restaurants, bars, etc are keeping many New Orleans residents lights on. Tulane and it’s students are critical to economic stability of Nola.