On Monday April 14th, Emerson College's Housing and Residential Office fired two Residential Assistants after they received probation for their alleged participation in protests. Three weeks ago, these students were given multiple charges, including "vandalism" for allegedly pasting stickers on the outside of an Emerson building. By now, at least one RA from 6 of the 7 residential communities have received summons, including 4 of the 7 stewards of the Emerson Union for Resident Assistants (EURA). At least two RAs have expressed that their disciplinary processes involved racial profiling. It has become increasingly evident that RAs are being summoned for meetings at a higher rate than other students. Additionally, the consequences of receiving probation are escalated for RAs. For most students, the only consequences of probation are an inability to hold RA or orientation leader positions. Emerson Housing and Residential Education is setting a precedence that probation equals termination, suggesting that regardless of the reasoning for probation it will automatically result in the loss of the role. For these RAs (one of whom is weeks from graduating) the loss of the role means the loss of not only their income, but their housing and access to dining. For the majority of RAs, the role is more than just a job---it is their direct ability to attend this institution. These students have been given only 7 days to find a new place to sleep and move their belongings with no accomodations or assistance from the school. Not only is this a gross infringement on these students' constitutional right to free speech, it also follows a long pattern of this institution trying to control and monitor RAs' political affiliation and opinions on the institution. Sign this petition to demand that President Jay Bernhardt and Emerson Housing and Residential reinstate the evicted Residents Assistants.
Follow eura_153 on Instagram for updates
To help the terminated RAs with housing and food expenses, venmo @ rasupport! We appreciate all the love and support from our community, and we can't thank you enough.
Updates
April 27, 2025
Seeing one hundred people stand behind these students gives me hope that we can stop this cruel displacement. Please keep pushing because losing your job and your home just weeks before graduation is a nightmare that no one should endure alone.
Reached 250 supporters
April 24, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
April 24, 2025
April 24, 2025
Watching the count climb toward one hundred names reminds me that our community refuses to let these residents be thrown out on the street. We need to keep this pressure building until the administration finally acknowledges the weight of their actions.
45 Comments
As a Boston resident, fellow union member, and former Colleges of the Fenway student, I stand with Emerson College's Resident Assistants and demand their reinstatement!
There are people who go here who have several title ix violations and even CRIMES and still work on projects as an enrolled student yet a sticker is what gets these RAs evicted….
As someone who has also been evicted from student housing, I condemn Emerson College for evicting and forcing these students into homelessness, for any reason, but especially for exercising their fundamental rights.
Imagine making RAs homeless for allegedly blocking traffic for 3 minutes. Unfathomable levels of misplaced priorities. Our community needs our RAs!
As a previous RA I fully understand and protest firing RAs for political reasons and call for the Housing department director to be fired immediately for their dishonesty, malicious manipulation, and blatant intolerance towards free speech on college campuses.
emerson can’t run without ra’s
FREE THEMMMMMM!!! This is so wrong, I don’t know too much about the RA community but I’m sure that the RA program directly finances some people’s funds to attend this university and doing this so last minute is crazy, Pray for them pls
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
On Monday April 14th, Emerson College's Housing and Residential Office fired two Residential Assistants after they received probation for their alleged participation in protests. Three weeks ago, these students were given multiple charges, including "vandalism" for allegedly pasting stickers on the outside of an Emerson building. By now, at least one RA from 6 of the 7 residential communities have received summons, including 4 of the 7 stewards of the Emerson Union for Resident Assistants (EURA). At least two RAs have expressed that their disciplinary processes involved racial profiling. It has become increasingly evident that RAs are being summoned for meetings at a higher rate than other students. Additionally, the consequences of receiving probation are escalated for RAs. For most students, the only consequences of probation are an inability to hold RA or orientation leader positions. Emerson Housing and Residential Education is setting a precedence that probation equals termination, suggesting that regardless of the reasoning for probation it will automatically result in the loss of the role. For these RAs (one of whom is weeks from graduating) the loss of the role means the loss of not only their income, but their housing and access to dining. For the majority of RAs, the role is more than just a job---it is their direct ability to attend this institution. These students have been given only 7 days to find a new place to sleep and move their belongings with no accomodations or assistance from the school. Not only is this a gross infringement on these students' constitutional right to free speech, it also follows a long pattern of this institution trying to control and monitor RAs' political affiliation and opinions on the institution. Sign this petition to demand that President Jay Bernhardt and Emerson Housing and Residential reinstate the evicted Residents Assistants.
Follow eura_153 on Instagram for updates
To help the terminated RAs with housing and food expenses, venmo @ rasupport! We appreciate all the love and support from our community, and we can't thank you enough.
Updates
April 27, 2025
Seeing one hundred people stand behind these students gives me hope that we can stop this cruel displacement. Please keep pushing because losing your job and your home just weeks before graduation is a nightmare that no one should endure alone.
Reached 250 supporters
April 24, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
April 24, 2025
April 24, 2025
Watching the count climb toward one hundred names reminds me that our community refuses to let these residents be thrown out on the street. We need to keep this pressure building until the administration finally acknowledges the weight of their actions.
45 Comments
Emerson is supposed to be a school that fosters free and creative expression not one that stands with those who want to control who and who does not qualify for the right to Freedom of Speech…
As a Boston resident, fellow union member, and former Colleges of the Fenway student, I stand with Emerson College's Resident Assistants and demand their reinstatement!
There are people who go here who have several title ix violations and even CRIMES and still work on projects as an enrolled student yet a sticker is what gets these RAs evicted….
As someone who has also been evicted from student housing, I condemn Emerson College for evicting and forcing these students into homelessness, for any reason, but especially for exercising their fundamental rights.
Imagine making RAs homeless for allegedly blocking traffic for 3 minutes. Unfathomable levels of misplaced priorities. Our community needs our RAs!
As a previous RA I fully understand and protest firing RAs for political reasons and call for the Housing department director to be fired immediately for their dishonesty, malicious manipulation, and blatant intolerance towards free speech on college campuses.
emerson can’t run without ra’s
FREE THEMMMMMM!!! This is so wrong, I don’t know too much about the RA community but I’m sure that the RA program directly finances some people’s funds to attend this university and doing this so last minute is crazy, Pray for them pls
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 750 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Emerson is supposed to be a school that fosters free and creative expression not one that stands with those who want to control who and who does not qualify for the right to Freedom of Speech…