One may wonder why some students subject themselves to the colleges that they have freely chosen to attend.
Apparently the tiny Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania is a brutal place for non-white students, and they made that point known on Wednesday during a ten-minute so-called “blackout” episode.
“It’s one thing to have more students of color on campus, but we need to have more resources for students, such as more minority faculty in class to facilitate discussions,” junior Breahna Pierce said.
Pierce pointed to a Mexican-themed party and “disrespectful” comments on Yik Yak as evidence of “injustices” towards minorities.
But is the former, for example, only an “injustice” when properly-hued students deem it so?
And, since Yik Yak is anonymous, how does Pierce even know who is making those “disrespectful” comments? There’s no possible way it might be a … minority student, right?
Most of the participants wore black. Several stood on chairs as they took turns speaking, including one who said minority students “are ignored. We are swept under the rug.” They ended with an invitation to a meeting scheduled for tonight, saying they will come up with a list of “demands” from Dickinson administrators, and promising to expose and push for removal of administrators who perpetuate problems and hold back change.
“As students, we have immense power to change this college,” said one.
Dickinson administrators in a written statement on Thursday said, “We were aware of this effort and support our students as they voice their concerns.”
The demonstrating students said the administration has failed to address issues brought to their attention pertaining to racial minorities as well as minorities such as transgender and international students.
During the blackout, one participant referenced recent race-related protests at colleges including the University of Missouri. “This is a movement,” a participant said.
Ms. Pierce added that she “often feels as though minorities on campus are ‘token’ students, which Dickinson uses ‘to sell diversity.'”
And yet, again, Ms. Pierce chose to go to Dickinson.
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