OPINION | Hear no evil, see no evil: Tulane’s disconnect from local community is troubling
February 3, 2021
Protected by stone walls and nestled among the St. Charles Avenue mansions, Tulane University exists as a world of its own. Tulanians live and breathe the reality of the “Tulane Bubble,” where the troubling truths of New Orleans fade away and campus conundrums take precedent. However, by remaining in this imaginary “bubble,” Tulane students fail to fulfill their obligation to the city and the administration falls short on its promises of community service and engagement.
While it is unquestionable that national and campus issues matter, they should not trump those of the local community. Rather, in a city deeply plagued by poverty, inequality and structural insecurities, students and the administration have a moral duty to advocate for New Orleanians, especially given how much the city offers the university while asking nothing in return. But, here lies the main predicament: given most Tulane students are not Louisiana residents, is it their place to intervene in or address local issues?
In short, yes, it is. More importantly, it is the university’s place to take a more direct stance on local issues and expand their efforts to better the local community by promoting student engagement in community problems.
Tulane’s motto, “Non sibi, sed suis,” or “not for one’s self, but for one’s own,” advertises a commitment to enhancing and interacting with the local community. The university claims to do so through community engagement and the Center for Public Service. While these efforts are admirable, they are insufficient. Tulane’s service learning programs are geared toward educating students, rather than to truly give back to the community. Thus, students reap the academic and moral benefits of their supposed community service while the community itself remains virtually unchanged.
Further, service learning programs only feed the disconnect between Tulane’s position of privilege and the local community. New Orleans natives are highly conscious of how unincorporated Tulane is with the city. This may be, in part, due to the predominantly out-of-state makeup of the student body. It appears, however, the local communities’ past negative experiences with the university and the inefficacy of Tulane’s efforts have done little to integrate students into the greater New Orleans area. Yet, Tulane continues to brand itself as a champion of community service and community engagement. This false advertisement needs correcting.
To mitigate the university’s hypocrisy, students and the administration must redirect their community engagement efforts towards programs and advocacy meant to support and better Tulane’s local community rather than those for academic enrichment. There is definitely no shortage of loud and engaged students, but they must also look past campus and national issues to use their passion for advocacy in local matters.
Many Tulane students chose the university after falling in love with New Orleans. Despite this adoration, students are uneducated and uninvolved in local issues. It is only when national issues collide with local realities that Tulane students organize en masse. Specifically, during recent local elections and the 2020 presidential election, many students registered to vote in Louisiana and thus influenced the local community. By voting in Louisiana, rather than their home states, out-of-state students made a commitment to New Orleans that ought to extend past a civic duty.
While participating in elections is a necessary practice, student efforts are needed elsewhere. They owe New Orleans far more than a vote. “New Orleans is among the most welcoming places in the world, a place where diverse cultures are valued and cherished,” Tulane student and native New Orleanian Zachary Shultz explained. “As such, we locals are gracious to outsiders and are willing to grant them great access to our most sacred traditions and rich culture and do so without asking much in return.”
To repay the New Orleans community for their generosity, students must turn their eyes to the people living only a stone’s throw away from campus. The reality of Tulane students mistreating their community is spoken about at length. It is clear that Tulane students have certain negative impacts on New Orleans. Families and homeowners tolerate loud music, parties and an overall lack of common courtesy as the constant ebb and flow of students rotates through off-campus residences. Although off-campus etiquette needs addressing, there are a plethora of other local issues that require students’ attention.
Meaningful issues in need of student advocacy include public safety, education, economic development, criminal justice, corruption and affordable housing. Repaving the streets of New Orleans to make them safer and more efficient is an incredibly important movement which directly affects student life. Additionally, since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, New Orleans has suffered an onslaught of problems which have only exacerbated harsh realities. Following the cancellation of Mardi Gras 2021, the city lost immense revenues from tourism, a major economic necessity for the community. External to tourism, the local New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board continues to send exorbitant bills to local residents in error. On a political front, the new District Attorney Jason Williams is under a federal indictment for tax fraud. These matters constitute only a fraction of the pertinent issues in need of students’ attention.
Advocating and participating in local dialogues also includes hands-on interaction with the local community. Given that 80% of Tulane alumni leave New Orleans upon graduating, students build a cycle of abuse in which they reap the benefits of the city at the cost of local residents without penance. As such, students should be encouraged to immerse themselves in local organizations and programs to help construct a more positive Tulane narrative. These efforts could take the form of volunteering at the New Orleans Mission, tutoring children at local schools, canvassing for a local political campaign or interning at a local non-profit.
As members of a community beyond the confines of Tulane’s campus, students must do their part. This does not mean students should focus solely on local issues. It demands that students venture out of the “Tulane Bubble,” confront the realities of New Orleans and use their ability to advocate and educate others to benefit city residents.
If Tulane hopes to uphold its motto and demonstrate its sacred commitment to service, the administration must encourage students to participate in meaningful community engagement rather than promote performative charity. This cannot happen until both the university and its students bridge the divide between Tulane and the community through long-overdue meaningful interactions.
Tucker Carlson II • Feb 10, 2021 at 3:16 pm
The writer of this article is likely writing from $1500 macbook and she seems like she knows nothing about New Orleans. I go to school across the street but I am also part of the “Tulane Bubble” I guess. First of all I’m quite sure the residents of uptown are very happy with college students who like to drink and party (the most favorite activity of the city whether or in college or not) living near them rather than the criminal thugs who have been robbing their houses. I was tossing the football in the Carrollton side of uptown when we got back from break and a couple in their 50s walking their dog said “hey boys nice to have y’all back in the neighborhood”. They said that because on that specific street cars were being jacked and their homes were being broken into and they rather have a few drunk college kids than be terrorized by thugs in gangs. I myself witnessed a gang (most likely crips based on their blue bandanas) break into a house and us privleged college kids were the only ones to alert the police and the homeowners who were away on vacation of the fact the our neighborhood was under siege by thugs . I’m probably sure our drinking and party is covers the city’s economic revenue in which tourism can not. Think of all the businesses in uptown that are based for the college communities. From Barbershops to cafe’s to bars and to restaurants. We bring Uptown New Orleans life and economic opportunities and that’s only because of the Universities in the area like Loyola/Tulane. The writer must address to every wealthy university student in a metropolitan city in the US. Truth is the Universities are bringing gentrification into New Orleans and that is good. The only way poverty and crime will be removed is through flourishing economic success and higher rent prices for locals. The poor will be driven away thus crime will be reduced. It’s a dog eat dog world there and social welfare provided by Tulane will not help, only a free market will. Tulane is this city’s backbone without it this side of New Orleans would be turned to some back water hell hole like the 9th ward. I also dear writer please go volunteer for the various non-profits in New Orleans, like a lot of students here do. I think whoever wrote the comment about their daughter being in a sorority is foolish but as ghandi said “Be the change you want to see in the world” instead you write this nonsense inside a luxury dorm, eating nice meals, and enjoying everything your University has to offer. ABSOULUTE HYPOCRISY
Jane Bulldeauxzer • Nov 28, 2021 at 10:45 am
And yet. Engaging in logical fallacy by attacking the writer’s laptop (!) does not negate the veracity of her argument. Tulane offers some wonderful critical thinking courses. Please consider signing up for one of them.
Anonymous • Feb 8, 2021 at 1:13 pm
I am a Tulane grad working in the non-profit world in New Orleans. Prior to COVID we would periodically have service learning groups from Tulane visit to contribute to our efforts and offer an opportunity to receive service hours.
As an alum, I was so deeply embarrassed nearly every time a Tulane group would visit. They were so far removed from the work they were doing and disrespectful towards our staff and space. I’ve wondered for years where this failure comes in- is it the seemingly arbitrary nature of service learning courses? The general disconnect of Tulane from the city? The general student body? Our generation as a whole?
Who’s to say. Some Tulane groups were an absolute pleasure and went above and beyond to engage with us and our work. Many of our staff are Tulane grads. My reigning theory is that the compulsory community service is all optics and is more focused on delivering stats to prospective students than providing a meaningful experience for the students and their city.
Jane Hawthorne • Feb 8, 2021 at 12:56 pm
Students are there to go to school first and foremost. So yes, it is and should be a learning experience for better or for worse. Students don’t go to Tulane because they necessarily want to invest in the community—-they go because they want to learn at a great institution and enjoy what New Orleans has to offer. Nothing wrong with that in my humble opinion. Why does anyone choose a school if not for those reasons? Tulane benefits the greater community in more ways than you give it credit for both from an employment perspective as well as a health perspective. And then Tulane also has service learning that although you don’t seem to think makes a difference, I would argue that it does.. Of course students should be good citizens. No argument there. But I think you have a really big ax to grind here that is out of proportion to reality. If Tulane is so hypocritical, why did you choose it?
Sm • Feb 7, 2021 at 12:54 pm
This article is absolutely what I’ve felt since I’ve arrived. The student body is significantly different than the New Orleans climate and it seems that students don’t care to integrate. They don’t represent the values of New Orleans for the most part. Tulane is largely cliques (note large flocks of girls at every turn) and largely about creating the New York/Los Angeles culture. Tulane seems to be filled with tourists who want to party. New Orleans is not simply about partying, but about culture, acceptance, love, and standing for the little man. Considering Tulane is about 70% white, it is hard to look around and feel accepted like it is in New Orleans. There’s no representation for minorities. This is NOT New Orleans. New Orleans and Tulane are vastly different scenes.
Anonymous • Feb 6, 2021 at 3:09 pm
The comments on this article reflect exactly what the writer’s point was- this idea that Tulane is trying so hard to project this facade that it’s giving back to the local community when really they can’t even provide their workers with parking spaces or transportation so they don’t get robbed on the way back home in the dark (this came from them). And if you think your daughter or son’s involvement in Greek life is the solution to New Orlean’s problems you’re in an even more delusional state- if anything they are what’s currently contributing most to the spread of COVID and the selfish behavior that’s resulting in the death of many locals. It’s all about “me, my, I did this, I did that”. Your actions and decisions behind closed doors and when they’re not being logged on a spreadsheet for “public service hours” are what speak the most about an individual and institution.
Anonymous • Feb 5, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Is it me or does this newspaper seem to hate everything about Tulane? Odd that the people who publish articles and opinions here seem to despise everything about the University. Maybe a transfer is in order for most of these folks? Either that or a little less self-righteous importance…
Michael Owens • Feb 5, 2021 at 4:09 pm
Well I think the administration and most of the students have had enough of all the lockdowns and rules that change often. They want to continue their education and try to make something of themselves.
If this opinion writer is so upset with the students and the administration, then maybe she should think hard about going somewhere else. I would never stay anywhere that makes me unhappy.
Me thinks she protests too much. Go a little easier
On the students and the administration. After all, everyone cannot be as wonderful as the writer of this article.
Susie Silverman • Feb 4, 2021 at 8:20 pm
I’m kind of insulted by the article. I’m the proud parent of two Tulane grads. We are from out of state. My daughters picked Tulane for many reasons. My oldest was a tutor in the Nola schools. She went to areas not frequented my most. She took the bus, as Uber didn’t exist. She was a honor student, involved with her sorority and the New Orleans community. She also received her MA as well. She later became the President of her local alumni chapter , and was honored as the Young Alumni of the year. She is heavily involved now as before. My other daughter also came to Tulane. Was involved with sorority life and was heavily involved with the business fraternity. She also volunteered heavily in the city. Many students do get involved, heavily. And care. Yes , some don’t, but so many do. My daughters work, and others , should not be dominished . They care. Very much. COVID has killed all if my daughters visits on behalf of the school. She has represented Tulane in official capacities. Please, have a heart.