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RCIH pushes for change through advocacy and demonstrations
LARA KORTE
@lara_korte
Last semester, a student-advocacy group called Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk presented a list of demands to the University to foster a more diverse and inclusive campus.
From the steps of Wesooe Hall to the late-night senate meetings to the Chancellor's office, here is a recount of RCIH's work from the fall 2015 semester.
Nov. 9 -#RockChalkInvisibleHawk speaks out on Twitter
The University's Black Student Union began the meeting with a discussion of discrimination in light of recent racially-charged events on University of Missouri and Yale campuses. The organization shared the experiences on social media, using the hashtag #RockChalkInvisibleHawk, which was created by a previous student about one year ago.
One of the tweets read, "We have first hand accounts of derogatory statements happening right on campus at KU."
On Nov.11, in response to the events and protests at the University of Missouri and Yale University, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little held a Town Hall meeting discussing race, respect and responsibility.
Nov. 11 - Town Hall Meeting on Race, Respect and Responsibility
After a few minutes of opening remarks, audience members were invited to speak. For two hours, those seated in the overflowing Woodruff auditorium heard grievances, suggestions and many stories of discrimination.
One of those stories was from BSU president Kynnedi Grant. As Gray-Little began to wrap up, Grant took to the stage, accompanied by fellow students dressed in all black and holding signs that read "I Will Not Be Silenced," "Black Lives Matter" and "I'm Not Paco."
staff, faculty and administration, and a thorough plan of action from the University by Jan.19,2016
"We are here. We are aware. We are powerful, and you cannot keep pushing us away," said one member of the group at the forum.
On stage, Grant recounted her experience with a hate crime. Grant and the others onstage announced themselves to be a new group called Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk and presented a list of 15 demands aimed at the University administration.
The demands included consistent hiring of diverse faculty and staff, mandatory intense inclusion and belonging training for all levels of students,
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Nov. 11 - RCIH goes to Senate
Later that evening, members of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk attended Student Senate Rights Committee. Members of the advocacy group explained in further detail to members committee their 15 demands presented at the Town Hall meeting. Two of the demands involved Student Senate: immediate amendments to the Senate Election Code and the establishment of a Multicultural Student Government independent of Senate.
Although there was reluctance from certain senate members, the evening ended with the Rights committee passing two resolutions: One saying the Rights Committee supports Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk's demands, and the other promising that full Senate would see the first resolution next week.
Nov. 13 - The Chancellor Responds
"Diversity and equity are foundational values for our university. But as we heard Wednesday, we are not living up to these values. Not when our own students, faculty and staff feel unsafe or unwelcome on our campuses. We can do better. We must do better. And we will do better," Gray-Little said in the release.
Two days later, on Nov. 13, Gray-Little issued a formal response to the events of the Town Hall Meeting. In the message, the chancellor said she was committed to making the University a safe place for everyone.
Nov. 13 - Senate Leadership gets a vote of no confidence
During its Nov. 13 meeting, the Student Executive Committee passed a motion of no confidence and called for the resignations of Student Body President Jessie Pringle, Student Body Vice President Zack George and Chief of Staff Adam Moon.
In a statement, the committee said it does not trust the leadership of Pringle or George because they did not stand during the Town Hall Meeting when audience
members were asked to rise and show solidarity for black students. It also stated that Adam Moon had attempted to "prevent discussion on these matters," by trying to move the time of the meeting. For these reasons, the committee called for the resignation of all three officers.
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"The inaction of President Pringle, Vice President George and Chief of Staff Moon have damaged the institution of the Student Senate, and, most importantly, have failed to meet the needs of our Black student peers. Without the respect and support of our Black student peers, the student senate loses its legitimacy as the student voice," the statement said.
Nov. 16 - Senate's 11-item action plan
On Nov. 16, Student Senate released an 11-item plan of action to address the racially charged discussions being led by Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.
Before listing items, the statement affirmed that student senate is supportive of the cause "championed by Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk."
Items included increasing funding for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, working with the Counseling and Psychological Services to increase resources for multicultural students and addressing guns on campus. The plan was signed by Pringle, George and Moon.
Nov. 18 - Senate moves to impeach leadership
Despite requests from the Student Executive Committee, Pringle, George and Moon announce their refusals to resign at the Nov. 18 meeting of full senate. They said they want to stay and help tackle the issues presented by Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.
Shegufa Hurma, vice president of University Senate and a Student Senator, outlined a bill of impeachment that was served to Senate. The meeting lasted six hours. Members of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk spoke as well, explaining their 15 demands and taking questions from the audience.
By the end of the night, full senate passed a resolution to support the 15 demands after the Rights Committee passed it the previous week. Senate also passed a bill to lower the elections spending cap back to $1,000, after it had been raised to $2,000 earlier in the semester. This was another one of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk's demands.
Nov. 24 - Creation of Diversity, and Inclusion advisory group
In a University-wide email, interim Provost and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Sara Rosen announced the creation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group.
In the email, Rosen said the advisory group, which would consist of students, faculty and staff, would work to "address key issues and concerns integral to greater campus inclusion."
The group would address several issues, including, but not limited to, increasing hiring of diverse faculty and staff, training and rehiring IOA staff, implementing accountability measures and issuing a climate survey.
Nov. 30 - Forums
Several schools within the University hosted forums to address diversity and inclusion following the events of the Town Hall meeting. These included the School of Business and School of Edu
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CAROLINE FISS/KANSAN
cation. However, the forum that elicited the most student response was hosted by the School of Social Welfare on Nov. 30.
Several members of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk are students in the school of social welfare, and said they felt that because the group was advocating for issues of social justice, the school should be in full support of its actions. At the time of the forum, the school had issued no formal statement aligning itself with Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
During the forum, students and faculty discussed areas for improvement and also debated the role of the school when it comes to racially-charged issues on campus. Several members of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk called the leadership of School of Social Welfare Dean Paul Smokowski into question during the forum.
"When will you be capable of providing the leadership we're asking from you?" Trinity Carpenter, a junior, asked Smokowski.
After the forum, Smokowski said he was glad students had a chance to voice their opinions.
"I think that our purpose was to allow a space for students in particular, faculty and staff to talk about their experiences, and I welcome that," Smokowski said. "And I think that was very helpful for us to hear and acknowledge."
Dec. 9 - One Last Rally
That morning, about 10 members of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk took to the hallways of Blake and Fraser halls, walking unannounced into classrooms and calling for students to show their allyship and join them on the steps of Wescoe.
"We're tired of silence from administration. We've been waiting. We've been getting small responses. There's been no action, no conversation about what to do, how to go forward with this — with students — and we are tired of waiting on that," said Katherine Rainey, a member of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.
By noon, a group of roughly 50 people had gathered on the steps of Wescoe Hall, showing their support for the group.
The group then moved into the office of School of Social Welfare Dean Paul Smokowski, demanding that he send a school-wide email calling for support of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.
After an hour, the protest
had grown to over 100 people. At 1:10 p.m. the group walked to Strong Hall and into the Chancellor's office, where they stayed for two hours speaking with administrators.
Sarah Rosen, interim provost, Nate Thomas, vice provost for diversity and equity, Tammara Durham, vice provost for student affairs and Mary Lee Hummert, vice provost for faculty development spoke with members of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.
Discussions touched on many of the same things Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk had been advocating for over the past month. There were conversations about climate surveys, the student code of conduct and banning Yik-Yak, which has been used to post racial slurs.
The sit-in ended with plans for a continued discussion with Rosen later that week, capping off an emotional semester for all involved.
"People see us as leaders and as people that they trust to use their voices." Kynnedi Grant, a member of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk, said. "They trust us to voice on behalf of them, because they either can't physically do it themselves, they're not able, or they vocally can't articulate what they're experiencing. And it's just the most humbling thing to have people that trust what you're saying and trust that you're going to be representative and inclusive all the time."
Dec. 11- Update on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board
Rosen released a list of student and staff members who will help address issues of marginalized students on campus.
In the statement, Rosen said the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board will "have independence and flexibility to identify and report new and rising concerns, and provide recommendations that lead to a more supportive and respectful environment at KU."
The board is chaired by Clarence Lang, Chair of the Department of African & African-American Studies, and Sheahon Zenger, Athletics Director. The group also includes six staff members and six students from a variety of professions and diverse backgrounds.
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