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Chancellor, KU departments, student groups and Senate presidents respond to discussions of racism and discrimination
ALLISON KITE and CONNER MITCHELL
@KansanNews
After a town hall forum on Wednesday sparked discussion about racism and discrimination on campus, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, University departments and Senates, and student groups issued statements on Friday in response.
In her statement, Gray-Little said KU is not sufficiently addressing issues of racism.
"At the same time, we must all understand that, when it comes to racism and discrimination, change is unlikely to happen from the top down," Gray-Little said. "Change has to within our university, and it must involve all of us — administrators, students, faculty, staff and alumni — working to
The faculty in the African and African American Studies department released a statement saying the University has not adequately addressed student concerns about racism in the past, and instead is more focused on protecting its reputation.
gether. The university must be able to count on each of you to help us do better. In the end, we are all human beings, and we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. And we are all Jayhawks."
"KU students of color testified to a disturbing pattern of anti-black intimidation and violence in residence halls, classrooms, and other campus spaces — as well as spaces in the larger Lawrence community," the statement read. "Equally distressing, students expressed
COURTNEY VARNEY/KANSAN Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little listens during the town hall meeting on race, respect and responsibility on Nov. 11
COURTNEY VARNEY/KANSAN
the view that from residence hall managers to the offices of the Provost and the Chancellor, the University has been far more interested in avoiding public exposure of racist incidents, suppressing student discontent, and 'protecting' KU's reputation than in substantively addressing grievances by students of color."
Faculty members in the Department of American Studies were also critical of the University's handling of diversity issues across campus, saying the response from administrators to this point has been "ineffective" and "dangerous."
"KU administrators have been slow to acknowledge and address these grievances, which has only reinforced a view among too many students of color that they are neither valued nor safe at KU," the department said. "This ineffective response is dangerous, as it implicitly affirms and heightens acts of racial offense, hatred, and terror."
A joint statement from University Senate President Michael Williams, Staff Senate President Chris Wallace, Faculty Senate President Tom Beisecker and Student Senate President Jessie Pringle said it is up to University governance to follow through on the call to action that has been made to address racism and diversity issues on campus.
"A call for action has been made to right the wrongs we have ignored for too long. We have heard the needs of students of color and other diverse backgrounds. We must act now to make our campus a place where students can feel safe to
succeed, and all can live and work in an atmosphere of support and inclusion," the statement read. "Our students need our help. They are not asking to be coddled or given any special privileges. They are just asking to feel as though they matter — on Jayhawk Boulevard, in their dorms, in the cafeterias, in the classrooms of our campus, and of course, the community at large."
Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equity, a student group, announced its support on Facebook for Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk and its demands.
"In its history, SURGE, formerly the Commission on the Status of Women, has failed to advocate with and for women of color, specifically black women," the statement reads. "The organization has failed to address the different ways in which racism and colorism impact black women's bodies. The organization apologizes, and will no longer participate in white supremacy by silencing this reality. We stand behind Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk, and strongly encourage other social justice oriented organizations to follow suit."
The September Siblings, a student group that formed last year to protest the way the University responds to sexual assault, also issued a statement on Facebook in support of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk
"Students of color — particularly black women, queer, trans, and LGB students — face unacceptably high levels of sexual violence, higher than the rates of sexual violence faced by their white peers. Additionally, administrative insensitivity to the cultures and experiences of students of color makes reporting and pursuing justice even more difficult and often unfeasible. Until the University actively undertakes efforts to dismantle white supremacy, efforts to counter sexual violence will be incomplete. The ways in which students experience sexual violence are closely tied to their racial identities"
Ten doctoral students in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department issued a statement in support of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk and its demands. The statement calls for the University to "address the injustices it continues to commit against students of color on this campus."
"We strive to ensure that black students and other students of color feel supported and fairly represented in each of our classrooms, and at every level of the University. We actively encourage dialogue that recognizes the importance of intersectional, minority identities. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding racism in our classrooms and promise to stand in solidarity with students of color in any and all situations where they are being attacked. As part of this effort, we will continually work to recognize our own privilege and hold each other accountable for our actions. Our office doors are now, and have been, open for any students who want or need to talk to someone. We are here, we will listen, and we will believe you."
See the full statements on Kansan.com
PARIS FROM
in economics and math with a minor in French
What were Friday's events like as a student
studying abroad?
I knew I wasn't in any immediate danger because I live in a fairly quiet part of Paris, almost in quiet town. But after the
link was posted in our student WhatsApp group, people started freaking out. Some weren't back in their apartments, and there was no telling if people were OK or not until they posted in the group. There was actually a guy in our group who was at the soccer match, and we were all trying to figure out a way to get him home all the way north of Paris, while Metro stations were being closed for security reasons. Angela Dittrich Perryman from the OSA messaged me a little past midnight here to confirm that I was OK. It was pretty scary to hear it all unfold; the hostage situation was developing live, the gunmen were running through the streets of Paris, and people were already talking about climbing over bodies to escape from Bataclan, covered in blood, and running all the way to the Metro.
the city about the
What announcements were made throughout
attacks?
There was an announcement made near the end of the night that all schools in Paris would be closed on Saturday and I got an email from my administration in the morning saying that classes would resume Monday. I've been really curious to see
how the city has changed over the last two days. Paris is still the same place, but there are noticeably less people out-and-about. I imagine Monday is going to be the most normal day, since everyone's going to go back to work and schools are starting again, but it's been a strange time.
SENATE FROM PAGE
cerely apologize," read the statement. "Yet, we want it to be known that we share the desire and commitment to address the needs of underserved communities at the University. We thank Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk for bringing their demands to the KU Campus to move forward together in making an equitable and inclusive community. Now is the time to produce collective work to make KU a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Through thoughtful collaboration we can create substantive and impactful change."
Some attendees, including Huma, asked Pringle to identify a reason why or why not Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk's demands are adequate, rather than bring up problems that had already been discussed at the town hall meeting.
"I think self reflection for me is going to take a little bit of a while so I think — thank you for the extension of your act — I think that I absolutely think I'm equipped with the skills in order to facilitate the discussion that is needed for all students on campus," Pringle said.
During the impeachment process, "Student Senate Rules and Regulations Article V Section 16.4.1 states, 'If both the student body vice president and the Student Senate chief of staff are principles, the Senior Senator shall fulfill the duties of the student body vice president," Childress said in an email. "The senior senator for the 2015-2016 Senate is Lauren Arney."
"The only positions that would be vacated would be the president, vice president, and chief of staff because those appointments and hirings were approved by the Student Senate and are not affected by the Bill of Impeachment," he said.
Alex Kinkead, a senator for the School of Social Welfare, said he believes Pringle may not be the best person for the position.
Childress said all other positions would remain.
What does this mean for Senate?
"I've been tracking patterns, and you're not even able to address students of color correctly, and this might not be your fault," Kinkead said. "You might not be as educated as some other students, but that's intaking that you are just not the right person for the job."
The committee would then compile facts of the investigation and write a report, including a formal recommendation. The chair of the committee would then present the report to Senate.
The accused — Pringle, George and Moon — would then be allowed to introduce their cases. Senate would then vote by majority whether to hear the case.
If Senate decides to hear the case, a special meeting would be called at which the accused could answer questions. Senate would then debate the charges
What happens next?
Background information
Childress has been at the University for six years and said he has never seen a vote of no confidence.
What happens next? Childress said that if Pringle, George and Moon do not resign before Nov. 18 at 5 p.m., the motion will be set into preliminary steps. According to Student Senate Rules and Regulations, if one-fourth of the voting members of Senate sign the bill, written notification will be given to Senate and the accused.
"The Student Senate will elect from its members a new president and vice president," if the accused are impeached, Childress said in an email. "The new president would then nominate a student to be chief of staff and the Senate would vote to approve or deny that appointment."
On Wednesday, Nov. 11 Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little moderated a town hall meeting on race, respect and responsibility held in response to the recent events at the University of Missouri and Yale University.
A committee would then be created and would include the chairs of the four standing Senate committees and five senators chosen by a lottery.
At the meeting, the student group Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk shared a list of 15 demands that the group wants the University to address. Some demands are hiring an Office of Multicultural Affairs director by December, immediate amendments to Senate election code, a Multicultura
Student Government separate from the current Student Senate and a plan of action from the University by Jan. 19.
and vote to discipline the accused. Any actions would require a two-thirds majority.
After the town hall meeting, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk gathered at the Student Senate Rights Committee to explain their 15 demands. By the end of that meeting, the Committee said it would support the 15 demands.
A group calling themselves Jayhawk Alumni Solidarity Group posted an online petition on Sunday night calling for the resignation of Pringle, George and Moon. The petition is open to University students, alumni, faculty, parents and community members. As of Sunday evening, it had more than 170 signatures.
"We call for your resignation in accordance with the Student Senate Executive Committee's deadline of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 2015," reads the petition. "Furthermore, we demand that your replacements work collaboratively with Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk organizers, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and other community partners in fulfilling the fifteen demands presented at the November 11th forum."
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