Sarah Daniels, (Sarah Jessica Parker) is the Dean of Students at the elite, isolated Belmont College in Vermont. After a tough stint at a Chicago college with a mostly African-American student population, Sarah seems to have settled into life at Belmont, where the mostly white student body has become more ethnically diverse after aggressive recruitment of students of color. It’s with great pleasure that Sarah convinces student Patrick Chibas (Victor Rasuk) to accept a huge scholarship for his outstanding work -- even if he has to reclassify himself as “Puerto Rican” (instead of his preferred “Nuyorican” -- he’s never even been to Puerto Rico even though that is his heritage).
But the racial landscape becomes suddenly charged when racist notes are left on the dorm room door of Simon Brick (Paul James), a quiet and shy African-American student. The incident sparks a quick reaction from college Deans Kenney (Miranda Richardson) and Strauss (Beau Bridges), who quickly convene a “race forum” in order to appeal sensitive to the needs and safety of their students. Sarah attends the meeting, which offers little in the way of dialogue and much in the way of public posturing by University president Garvey (James Rebhorn): aside from the campus minister, there is not a person of color on the stage, and students of all races mock the pathetic attempt at addressing a serious incident.
Indeed, students are only too ready to speak to local reporter Aaron Carmichael (Mykelti Williamson), who is himself recently arrived from Chicago. As one of the few African-Americans living near the college, Aaron seems particularly interested in the more subtle forms of racism that occur in the supposedly liberal atmosphere. Sarah, recognizing him from his work in Chicago, asks him to be respectful of Simon’s privacy, and not to stir up too much trouble.
But the racial threats continue -- a rock through Simon’s window, then a noose, and the students seem to be taking it out on each other. Another hastily assembled “forum” turns violent after Patrick Chibas reveals how he was forced to change his ethnicity to get a scholarship because of the administration’s inability to understand the complexities of racial identity. A fight breaks out and makes the evening news, and Sarah is told by the deans to come up with a “ten-point plan” to end racism on campus.
Having found a sympathetic ear in Aaron -- neither of them are particularly happy with the way the issue is being handled, and see themselves as outsiders -- Sarah confesses to Aaron that she, too, has frequent racist thoughts, remnants of her experience in Chicago where some black students -- particularly young men -- often frightened her. She can’t help herself from feeling scared of black men even though she knows there is no justification, and the absurdity of her “ten-point” task makes the entire matter seem hopeless. Aaron says that their only recourse is to find the person who is responsible for the racist threats; until then, it seems that everyone has a guilty hand.
The perpetrator IS found by a group of black students who catch him spray painting “N-I-G” on the wall of an all-black residence -- Sarah is called by the students to find that the guilty party is someone entirely unexpected. As Sarah weighs out her options, she begins to appreciate just how deeply embedded ethnic bias is woven into the language and behavior of those around her, and prompt her to take drastic action when she realizes that, despite the good intentions of many, the system is not going to change.
--© Screen Media Films
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