RE: Carolyn Davids' article ``Dissent'' written in respsonse to the Nov. 13 discussion on defining racism. Ms. Davids took Jacqueline Rhodes to task quite personally. I was at the panel and would like to encourage Ms. Davids to exercise more charity in her judgment. She seemed shocked at the vehemence of Ms. Rhodes' response to a student's comments. Usually, when someone says something shocking, they do so for a reason. Charity would lead toward asking what that reason was, rather than condemnation. Charity has much to do with the quality of listening. And in terms of race, charity suggests whites should listen to people of color. Whites should ask ``Why?'' rather than ``How dare you?''

In discussions on race and gender on campus, I have heard far more about how people of color and women should speak than about how whites and men should listen. As a white woman, I'm trying to discern when to listen and when to speak. This is a hard task for all of us - and requires charity to accomplish it.