Kaleem Caire:

As a “distinguished alumnus” of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I say “bravo” to Chancellor Blank. I am looking forward to meeting with her to discuss the recommendations that have been put forth, and how quickly and thoroughly they will be implemented. We need transformational leadership, not just a few easy-to-implement solutions, and we need full implementation — soon.

As an alternative to jail time, the university should partner with UW students, faculty, local community organizations and the Dane County district attorney to implement a serious restorative justice process to address both the racist and anti-racist graffiti war that’s been waged on the campus. The three young white men who aren’t students and who were recently arrested for spray painting racist graffiti should be included in this as well.

Jail time, in these cases, can harden hearts, not heal them, and lead to future criminal and violent acts by these young people and/or others. It can also satisfy a person’s wrong-headed desire to be a martyr for illegitimate movements steeped in the promotion of violence and hatred. Is that what we want in our community?

A better strategy to change behavior long-term in these cases is to address the core of the problem — to heal people’s hearts while addressing ignorance and hate head-on. Those directly engaged in the crime, and those directly and indirectly hurt by it, should be included. And it should include more than a few conversations.