I am writing in regard to the cartoon your newspaper allowed to be published, which featured a child climbing a fence who was dressed as “an illegal immigrant” — essentially a “hobo” costume, but, oh, it’s funny because he’s climbing a fence.

I have seen the apology you all have offered for this racist cartoon, and let me be clear — it is not enough. The proportion of enrolled students the University lists online as “Hispanic” is 8.1 percent. The national proportion of Hispanic citizens is 17.1 percent, and the Illinois proportion is 16 percent.

But, as low as that University percentage is, I don’t even see it represented in your reporting, or in your staffing.

This university is a hostile place for people of color. The Greek system, the segregated town and the racist mascot all contribute to an incredibly homogenous culture. I have heard of many Latino students simply giving up and going back home.

This newspaper could show some true penitence by starting to address why the University doesn’t recruit Latinos, what Latinos experience in this community and why they don’t stay. You could try to bring in a Latino perspective occasionally. You could recruit a Latino staff member.

One of the many pernicious myths about the lack of diversity at the University is that it somehow reflects a lack of qualified applicants. Given the low bar set by this publication, in allowing such a cartoon to be published (just for starters), I don’t think you can claim that particular excuse.

Albert Stabler is a Ph.D candidate in Art Education.

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