September 26, 2014
Trying to radically change how Colgate handles matters of inclusivity and diversity, this past Monday the school’s Association of Critical Collegians began a sit-in protest at the Admissions Building. The ACC’s demands were detailed and sweeping; emphasizing more education and awareness across all levels of the college.
For over two days the group refused to vacate the office, and if successful, the protest will spur significant changes to almost every aspect of Colgate’s administration. The organization began with just four female students, but has evolved into over one hundred students protesting together.
The women who formed the organization are Melissa Melendez ’15, Kori Strother ’15, Natasha Torres ’15 and Kristi Carey ’15. The women decided to form the ACC after a series of racist and offensive posts were written on Colgate’s YikYak earlier this year. The women had all previously been frustrated by Colgate’s racial culture, and furthermore by the administration’s continually menial efforts to correct such injustice, so they decided to try enacting change themselves. The ACC drew inspiration from the Association of Black Collegians (ABC), a group of Colgate students in the 1960s who also performed sit-in protests on similar issues. The women named themselves ACC to articulate a clear message of change, and then decided to stage this protest to vigorously propose their new demands to the administration. As of Wednesday afternoon, the group was still protesting inside Admissions with no plans of leaving.
The group’s demands strike at major institutional deficiencies which the ACC finds contradict the school’s mission. Its mission statement promises that Colgate will be “an inclusive institution with diverse students and faculty” that “encourages interpersonal exploration, expands mutual understanding and supports a broadened perspective.” The ACC outlined their concerns and demands to the administration in an action plan detailing their proposed changes to its admission process, financial aid services, curricular structure, faculty and staff selection and training programs and study abroad program. The changes aim to provide an environment that educates all Colgate community members on different forms of inequality and privilege. While a shift in the college’s social culture is also necessary, the ACC listed several structural changes they would like to see. They believe that unless the administration itself changes, continued progress will remain difficult to obtain.
Changes to the Admission office include the introduction of “formal assessments of admissions processes to determine the efficacy and inclusivity of admissions programs and protocols.” The group believes that a diverse student body is integral in a campus to truly understand and engage with cultural and societal inequity; thus effective and inclusive admission practices are key. The group also asks that “our financial aid system be held accountable for providing full work study opportunities to all students,” in an effort to support students of varying socio-economic classes upon arrival. While academic discussions are important facets of developing students’ awareness and knowledge, the group asserts that the presence of a diverse student population is one of few ways all students can be actually exposed to varying disadvantaged groups and their experiences.
In terms of changing Colgate’s systematic academic policy, the action plan asks that “our core curriculum be revised to bring in explicit study and understanding of systemic power dynamics and inequities.” Currently Colgate requires that all students take a GE, or Global Education class, which discusses issues of social inequality and privilege; however the ACC feels this current course allows too few options for real intellectual discovery. Courses of the same name often have different content based on the professor, creating unequal student exposure. Some schools already offer courses or programs which the ACC thinks may be effective. In 2012, Skidmore College introduced the minor of Intergroup Relations, studying tensions within and between different groups. The ACC believes this could be a useful model for Colgate to use if they restructure their system.
Colgate’s administration responded quickly to the protest and has come to the Admissions office to hear the group’s demands and concerns, and begin negotiations. Dean of Students Scott C. Brown, Dean of Faculty Douglas A. Hicks and College President Jeffrey Herbst have all been present at the protests and have begun conversations with the organization. While the administration has made amiable overtures to the ACC, Natasha Torres ’15 said, “they’ve been engaged,” but “whether or not they are actually hearing us, I don’t think so.” Some students worry that the administration is trying a familiar tactic of attempting to wait out the students, and that they may not actually enact any real changes in the end. These doubts have solidified the group’s dedication to remaining in the building as long as necessary.
Faculty members have also been present at Admissions, but more often as supporters than negotiators. Several professors have outwardly supported the group’s goals, and several departments held faculty meetings with the group to discuss their agenda. Professors from departments such as biology and English also moved their classes to the Admission building to show their support. Since curricular change is a large part of the ACC’s demands, the group thinks it is encouraging that the faculty have decided to be involved, but they still have concerns. A student noted that “the faculty have always had a hard time agreeing on things,” partially referencing the creation of the GE courses, which took the faculty three years to create. Until the faculty reaches a formal consensus the group will not end their conversations with them.
The Spectator reached out to Colgate’s Dean of Students and Dean of Faculty offices, but were unable to reach them.
Colgate students have been generally receptive to the ACC’s protest. Some student and Greek organizations have been donating meals to the protestors, helping them maintain the sit-in. Students are still asking questions about the nature of the protests. The ACC held an open forum on Tuesday night to provide the campus with information on their motives and goals, hoping to clarify their positions. While there has been some negative backlash, particularly on Colgate’s YikYak page, the ACC is not deterred.
After two days of eating and sleeping in the Admissions building the group’s mood fluctuates between moments of confusion and discouragement to moments of hopefulness and determination. When asked what was keeping morale high, David Jordan ’17 said, “this isn’t necessarily something we want to do, but it’s something that many of us feel compelled to do.” Their drive does not come from desires to benefit themselves, but to stand up for what they think is right. While the original four members of ACC recognize they will never personally benefit from the group’s protests, they continue on in hopes of permanently changing campus culture to allow future students to feel safe, respected and understood.
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