Students, faculty and staff at Syracuse University are standing by students at other colleges and universities that have been plagued by racial tensions. Those schools have been in the news recently, accused of not doing enough to tamp down what students of color are calling institutional racism on campus.
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According to Janay Williams, “Students were told to dress as either Kanye West or in western attire, but a few students ran with that as a way to flaunt every racial stereotype imaginable: blackface make-up, baggy trousers, ‘do rags, ‘ wife beaters (undershirts), backwards caps”, she said. Organizers said it is restricted to black-identified people only, although there will also be an ally meeting at the same time in the Erb Memorial Union.
Bradley’s research on these protests has led him to specialize in black student activism at Ivy League universities-another topic on the minds of many as protests at Yale University continue over issues of free speech and race. Brooks spoke of the need for the admission of more black students so as to fairly represent the demographic composition of the USA, the admission of more low income students, and the provision of the necessary services and support systems to to empower these students to graduate. She added she thinks administrators are hoping students won’t follow up on their demands.
The Gator chapter of the NAACP hosted a “black out” on campus to raise awareness of what’s happening at Mizzou.
“It’s kind of shocking to me because I haven’t experienced it first-hand”, Craig said.
Despite the work to be done, Brooks and the other members of SASS commended the administration and many members of the Deans’ Office for showing their support by attending the demonstration.
Officers arrested the student on Wednesday morning.
Ummara Hang, a graduate student in social welfare, said there is more strength and power in student voices when they unite together.
University of Arkansas Interim Chancellor Dan Ferritor says he hasn’t been made aware of any issues of racism on campus.
“Now we have this thought of what’s next, but I don’t want to us to just do this but not change anything because we’re all seniors except for Tyrone”, Murray-Thomas said.
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“It’s great that we’re having dialogue and conversations because that is such a critical need”.
