Students at St. Olaf, a private, Lutheran liberal arts college in Minnesota, boycotted class Monday to demand action from the school’s president after a threatening note with racist language was found on a student’s car last weekend. Other students say they’ve received similar notes as well.
https://twitter.com/longnightlaura/status/858487906385752064
I stand in solidarity w/ #StOlaf. Students should not have to tolerate hate.
— deray (@deray) May 1, 2017
Signs on doors at @StOlaf. Classes were officially cancelled when the boycott started this morning. Via @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/Nsgm9mi9ZC
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
Getting warm inside the admin bldg at @StOlaf. Student organizers are making announcements right now abt food & safety. #boycott #racism pic.twitter.com/MVaVe0P3bh
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
"I was targeted a week ago…came home w the word N… on my car… I no longer feel safe or welcome here." student Don Williams, a junior. pic.twitter.com/55gCA3v7aZ
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
During an encounter that reporters described as tense, student organizers presented the school’s president, David R. Anderson with a document outlining their terms and conditions for negotiation.
Students have now interrupted a staff meeting w the pres of @StOlaf. Student leaders say "no dialogue" until pres reads list of demands. pic.twitter.com/O1xriZQVkH
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
Recommended
Very tense and emotional as @StOlaf POC students read their "terms of engagement" in front of the college president. Via @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/gMZ1w1Mzac
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
"We are coming from a place of fear…we have been threatened…told to go back to Africa." #StOlaf #boycott #racism via @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/AyXBLmBxDY
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
David Anderson, president of @StOlaf says walking in, demanding sign this, is "unfair.. that's not how conversation and dialogue works." pic.twitter.com/wLIdfXdY42
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) May 1, 2017
Something must have changed his mind; in a packed assembly hall, Anderson reportedly was cheered as he signed his name to the document.
President David Anderson just signed our terms. This is STEP 1 for institutional change regarding race at #stolaf. pic.twitter.com/eFH69WWe7x
— L I L I A ?? (@liliASmiles) May 1, 2017
Students and administration at @stolaf have reached agreement in today’s sit-in over racist threats… details to come…
— Rob Olson (@RobOlsonFOX9) May 1, 2017
Part of the agreement at @stolaf to end the sit-in over racial threats is a task force to see what/how student demands can be implemented.
— Rob Olson (@RobOlsonFOX9) May 1, 2017
As part of their terms, students demanded the creation of a task force led by “two faculty members of color” and “three students and one alumni member of color.”
In addition to their terms and conditions, students put together a separate list of demands, which includes the creation and enforcement of “a comprehensive racial awareness and inclusiveness curriculum” and a revision of the school’s general education requirements to include “mandatory introductory courses in Race & Ethnic Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies departments.”
History of Western Culture classes, which focus mostly on western white philosophers, “must address histories of colonization, identity, institutional and systemic oppression,” students add.
Students are also demanding that Arne Christenson of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee be removed from his advisory board position: “Given Mr. Christenson’s political views and values as a Christian Zionist, St. Olaf College risks his influence upon the speakers brought to the school, the educational offerings, faculty development workshops, and scholarships sanctioned by the Institute through financial means.”
https://twitter.com/lukehellier/status/859050017100836866
https://twitter.com/lukehellier/status/859050578881777664
appalling
— Andrew Wagner (@andrewwagner) May 1, 2017
the world is only safe if everyone in charge of everything you associate with agrees with everything you believe, otherwise persecution
— Francis (@franklywillis) May 1, 2017
Huh, nobody forced them to go to a private christian college
— Joshua (@j_w_84) May 1, 2017
There’s no excuse for racist notes like the one posted above, but it might be a matter better left to the police than the gender studies department.
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Related:
Cave story: Seattle U places dean on leave over psychologically abusive focus on dead white dudes https://t.co/YybKzwPSaf
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 3, 2016
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