The Record

The r-word campaign

By: Brenna Finley

A small group of CSB/SJU students have decided to bring a national issue closer to home by raising awareness among students, faculty,  and staff to diminish the use of the derogatory word “retard.”

“A lot of people use this word without the intention of harming the millions of people it affects,” senior Matt Daley said, “but that doesn’t mean it’s less demeaning or degrading for those with intellectual disabilities or the people who love them.”

The R-word, or “retard,” is a word that, according to dictionary.com, means “to make slow; delay the development or progress; hinder or impede” and it has been used historically to describe intellectual disabilities. Americans have become more aware in recent decades of the hurtful or damaging effects of certain words used as casual slang in everyday conversation.

“The R-word robs respect from a whole group of people who, in many cases, cannot defend themselves,” junior Lindsay Ganong said. “This campaign is here to say that it’s not OK anymore.”

“Spread The Word To End The Word” is the slogan of the National Campaign.

This movement’s goal is to point out that the use of this word is an issue in popular media and in our daily lives. The spokesman for the project is John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Cox on the popular TV show, “Scrubs.”

“It’s time to respect and value people with intellectual disabilities,” McGinley said at www.r-word.org. “It’s time to end the R-word.”

McGinley has a son with Down Syndrome. He has been active in awareness and fundraising efforts for the Down Syndrome Society as well.

Danielle Liebl is a senior at Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minn., and is a Global Messenger for the Special Olympics Minnesota organization. She’s brought the R-word campaign to several area high schools and is now reaching out to colleges as well. When senior David Massey volunteered with the Special Olympics, he met Liebl and made the connection that allowed the campaign to begin at CSB/SJU.

Senior Drew Dorschner volunteered with the Special Olympics, and through that experience he realized the real effects of the word.

“I started to really pay attention, which can have a domino effect,” Dorschner said. “The ultimate goal is catching it and pointing out to others to stop. If people want to be politically correct, something needs to be done.”

The group promoting the campaign, as well as many others, will be working to gain support and foster respect and hospitality in the spirit of this Benedictine institution.

“It has to start at the grassroots,” Daley said.

The group is open to collecting individual stories or input on the R-word and is recruiting volunteers for the campaign on March 10 at CSB/SJU. Interested students should contact Massey.

“Be aware (of the use of this word), and don’t be afraid to say something against it,” Massey said. “This word is attacking the most vulnerable community.”

“I hope each student considers signing the pledge to remove the R-word from his or her own vocabulary and vows not to tolerate others’ uses of the R-word,” Ganong said.

For more information on how to pledge your support and speak out against the use of the R-word, check out www.r-word.org. Stop by the booths on campus to pledge, get more information and buy a T-shirt to fundraise for the Special Olympics. If you would like to get involved and volunteer with the Special Olympics, visit the Web site at www.SpecialOlympics.org.

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