BUZZ
If you’re white, ‘by nature, your presence may suffocate’
Stanford University has suspended for one year a pair of student co-ops for Title VI violations, one antisemitic in nature and the other anti-white.
As noted by The Stanford Daily, Title VI is the federal law banning “harassment and discrimination based on race, color or national origin in educational institutions.”
The school’s co-ops, or cooperative houses, are “student-managed residences in which house members cooperate in the operation and governance of the house.”
According to the Daily, the Stanford Title VI Office received “several reports” about the Kairos co-op after some students “participating in an extracurricular activity in the house were asked to leave.”
The reason was that “Zionists” present were “making residents of the house uncomfortable” … despite none of the activity’s participants discussing politics.
“The investigation determined that students were targeted based on their perceived Jewish identity,” Stanford said in a statement.
Kairos “fosters BIPOC solidarity as well as arts appreciation” and features a land acknowledgment to the Muwekma Ohlone people on its website.
Residence assistants of the other co-op, the Enchanted Broccoli Forrest (a “loosely arts-themed co-op dedicated to empowering BIPOC, gender-marginalized, queer, and [first-generation/limited-income] voices,” pictured) sent out an email to incoming student residents informing them the EBF “is committed to being a place of refuge for those who are black, brown, gender-marginalized, and FLI.”
As such, “if you are white/white-passing, or if you are a man, do understand that you are being invited into space that wasn’t and isn’t made for you,” the message continued. “We welcome you to this community, however ask that you acknowledge and are cognizant of the space you are occupying, and how, by nature, your presence may suffocate.”
Enchanted Broccoli Forrest is listed as a resource on Stanford’s Queer Student Resources page.
Stanford officials also noted that in its email the EBF included a statement about “anticipated use of substances in shared spaces,” which “could be interpreted to encourage activities that violate University policy.”
Vice Provost for Institutional Equity, Access and Community Patrick Dunkley and Vice Provost for Student Affairs Michele Rasmussen noted both co-ops will have to demonstrate “compelling evidence of the capacity to self-govern the residence in ways that comply with university policies and applicable laws” if they want to be reinstated following suspension.
MORE: Stanford students rally in support of suspended lecturer who allegedly segregated Jewish students
IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: A “suspended” stamp; CarmenKarin/Shutterstock.com. INTERIOR IMAGE: Stanford U.
