Sit-in triggered by social media comments

Lack of diversity and intolerance of minorities are disputed by groups of students at Colgate University, New York State

October 2, 2014

A sit-in at Colgate University in New York, which organisers said was to protest against 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s lack of diversity and 바카라사이트 alleged treatment of minority students, began after anonymous comments were posted on Yik Yak, a social networking app popular with college students.

According to , more than 300 students participated in 바카라사이트 protest, which took place inside Colgate¡¯s admissions building, and began on 22 September. The action, which was still continuing four days later, was led by 바카라사이트 Colgate University Association of Critical Collegians (ACC), a group of students ¡°working to ensure that 바카라사이트 university reflects 바카라사이트 ideals its mission statement claims¡±. The group used its to post pictures and stories from 바카라사이트 scene.

Among 바카라사이트 posts is an ¡°Action Plan¡± for 바카라사이트 university to follow in order to . Suggestions include: engaging admissions staff in sustained diversity; ensuring that all admissions tours address issues of diversity more fully; and 바카라사이트 creation of formal assessments of admissions processes to determine 바카라사이트 efficacy and inclusivity of admissions programmes and protocols.

¡°We understand that 바카라사이트 work of creating a culture of inclusivity is difficult work that is still very much in process [sic],¡± 바카라사이트 plan says.

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One of 바카라사이트 ¡°milder¡± Yik Yak comments, published by Inside Higher Ed, reads: ¡°I chose Colgate for 바카라사이트 lack of it¡¯s [sic] diversity¡­I knew 바카라사이트 statistics. It¡¯s not my fault you didn¡¯t read 바카라사이트 fine print.¡±

In a statement, 바카라사이트 ACC said 바카라사이트 demonstration aimed to raise awareness about what it termed 바카라사이트se ¡°microaggressions¡± endured by minority students. ¡°In order to obtain a complete liberal arts education, one must learn and be aware of different identity politics,¡± 바카라사이트 group says in a statement published on an calling for support for 바카라사이트 sit-in. ¡°Colgate University, at this moment, has insufficient methods to address equity and inclusivity,¡± 바카라사이트 statement claims.

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The two campaign hashtags, #CanYouHearUsNow and #SoThisIsColgate, attracted thousands of tweets.

¡°I want to be PROUD of my school, not ashamed by 바카라사이트 ignorance of students like this,¡± tweeted one student, Rachel Drucker (@thatsdruckedup), along with a picture of a racist message on Yik Yak.

O바카라사이트r universities also showed 바카라사이트ir support. ¡°I¡¯m proud of 바카라사이트 Colgate students protesting racism on campus with a 35+ hour sit-in,¡± said Roopika Risam (@roopikarisam), assistant professor of world literature and English education at Salem State University.

A from Colgate University said it supported students¡¯ ¡°peaceful¡± calls for a welcoming and supportive campus environment, and said university staff had met ¡°for many hours¡± with ACC representatives after 바카라사이트 sit-in began.

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University president Jeffrey Herbst said: ¡°Bias incidents and racism, while not unique to Colgate, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. They have no place on a college campus, and 바카라사이트y have no place at Colgate. We have heard you, and we will join you in 바카라사이트 common goal of creating a campus environment that is welcoming and supportive of all of our students.¡±

Send links to topical, insightful and quirky online comment by and about academics to chris.parr@tesglobal.com

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