In an attempt to become a need-blind institution, Lafayette College has presented a few initiatives to make this possible in the upcoming years. One of these initiatives is the reallocation of funds, particularly the funds dedicated to the DC branch of the Posse Foundation currently present on this campus.
"The Posse Foundation has identified, recruited and trained 6,983
public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership
potential to become Posse Scholars. Since 1989, these students—many of
whom might have been overlooked by traditional college selection
processes—have been receiving four-year, full-tuition leadership
scholarships from Posse’s partner institutions of higher education.
Most important, Posse Scholars persist and graduate at a rate of 90
percent and make a visible difference on campus and throughout their
professional careers." (The Posse Foundation)
At a campus where a majority of students come from the same socioeconomic background, race, and similar identities, Posse provides a safe-haven for our students of color and a welcoming environment for students who do not identify with the "norm". Posse is not only a scholarship, but a support network and leadership initiative that we do not believe Lafayette offers anywhere else. We, the community of Lafayette College, feel that the presence of Posse on this campus is irreplaceable and invaluable. While we encourage the installment of a need-blind program, we feel that de-funding half of our current Posse presence presents more harm than benefit.
In signing this petition, we pledge to stand with Posse as the Lafayette administration deliberates the future of this program. #IStandWithPosse
Learn more about the Posse Foundation here: https://www.possefoundation.org/
Learn more about Lafayette's initiative here:
https://www.lafayettestudentnews.com/blog/2016/02/...
https://news.lafayette.edu/2016/02/24/lafayettes-p...
Updates
February 26, 2016
I just looked at the screen and saw the number one hundred sitting there which is honestly just wild because I started this on a total whim while sitting in the library. This really shows how much people care about the Posse community (especially when you think about how quick things change around here) and I am just so happy to see everyone showing up.
Reached 250 supporters
February 26, 2016
February 26, 2016
I really thought this might just fizzle out in the group chat but seeing all these people jump on board is honestly kind of overwhelming in the best way. My hands are actually shaking a little bit while I type this because it feels like maybe we finally have enough weight behind us to stop them from cutting this program.
Reached 100 supporters
February 25, 2016
February 24, 2016
Seeing the count tick up toward that first hundred mark is honestly wild because it feels like we are finally actually getting people to pay attention. If you can just blast the link out to a couple of group chats right now we might actually hit the goal before the administration realizes how loud we are getting about this whole thing.
48 Comments
I appreciate Lafayette's intention to increase need-blind financial aid, but not at Posse's expense. I worked with several Posse members at Lafayette who brought great leadership skills and insights to our community, and I think terminating the program at Lafayette would deprive the college of badly needed voices.
No one is arguing that need blind is a bad thing. It's a beautiful thing, but not at Posse's expense. Our community is saying we need DC Posse Scholars; please listen to our voice and reject this recommendation from the presidential working group. If we are truly a connected community, if we are really trying to live connected and lead change, keep our leaders around.
Just because an organization's membership does not include all of the students on campus, does not mean that their presence is not felt in every corner of our community. Throughout college I have seen Posse Scholars rise in moments where other students have stayed silent. Posse is a part of the Lafayette community, to remove any element of this program is to lessen our community.
As a Scholar from Posse DC 10, I have and will always stand with The Posse Foundation because it not only gave me the economic opportunity to attend a pretigous college. But it also gave me the necessary academic, social, and emotional support that I need to survive college.
Our Posse Scholars are our leaders... they ignite change on this campus unlike any other group of individuals. It is not about race, diversity, or quotas. It is about the discussion they bring, the perspectives they contribute, and their undying leadership. To cut out part of the program would be a disservice to us all. You can't replicate Posse.
Leadership should not be cut by budgets.
I stand with Posse
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In an attempt to become a need-blind institution, Lafayette College has presented a few initiatives to make this possible in the upcoming years. One of these initiatives is the reallocation of funds, particularly the funds dedicated to the DC branch of the Posse Foundation currently present on this campus.
"The Posse Foundation has identified, recruited and trained 6,983
public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership
potential to become Posse Scholars. Since 1989, these students—many of
whom might have been overlooked by traditional college selection
processes—have been receiving four-year, full-tuition leadership
scholarships from Posse’s partner institutions of higher education.
Most important, Posse Scholars persist and graduate at a rate of 90
percent and make a visible difference on campus and throughout their
professional careers." (The Posse Foundation)
At a campus where a majority of students come from the same socioeconomic background, race, and similar identities, Posse provides a safe-haven for our students of color and a welcoming environment for students who do not identify with the "norm". Posse is not only a scholarship, but a support network and leadership initiative that we do not believe Lafayette offers anywhere else. We, the community of Lafayette College, feel that the presence of Posse on this campus is irreplaceable and invaluable. While we encourage the installment of a need-blind program, we feel that de-funding half of our current Posse presence presents more harm than benefit.
In signing this petition, we pledge to stand with Posse as the Lafayette administration deliberates the future of this program. #IStandWithPosse
Learn more about the Posse Foundation here: https://www.possefoundation.org/
Learn more about Lafayette's initiative here:
https://www.lafayettestudentnews.com/blog/2016/02/...
https://news.lafayette.edu/2016/02/24/lafayettes-p...
Updates
February 26, 2016
I just looked at the screen and saw the number one hundred sitting there which is honestly just wild because I started this on a total whim while sitting in the library. This really shows how much people care about the Posse community (especially when you think about how quick things change around here) and I am just so happy to see everyone showing up.
Reached 250 supporters
February 26, 2016
February 26, 2016
I really thought this might just fizzle out in the group chat but seeing all these people jump on board is honestly kind of overwhelming in the best way. My hands are actually shaking a little bit while I type this because it feels like maybe we finally have enough weight behind us to stop them from cutting this program.
Reached 100 supporters
February 25, 2016
February 24, 2016
Seeing the count tick up toward that first hundred mark is honestly wild because it feels like we are finally actually getting people to pay attention. If you can just blast the link out to a couple of group chats right now we might actually hit the goal before the administration realizes how loud we are getting about this whole thing.
48 Comments
For a college that stresses it's commitment to diversity on all of its advertisements, this comes as an astonishing hypocrisy. Is Lafayette only committed to diversity when it can be exploited for advertising purposes? Put your money where your mouth is.
I appreciate Lafayette's intention to increase need-blind financial aid, but not at Posse's expense. I worked with several Posse members at Lafayette who brought great leadership skills and insights to our community, and I think terminating the program at Lafayette would deprive the college of badly needed voices.
No one is arguing that need blind is a bad thing. It's a beautiful thing, but not at Posse's expense. Our community is saying we need DC Posse Scholars; please listen to our voice and reject this recommendation from the presidential working group. If we are truly a connected community, if we are really trying to live connected and lead change, keep our leaders around.
Just because an organization's membership does not include all of the students on campus, does not mean that their presence is not felt in every corner of our community. Throughout college I have seen Posse Scholars rise in moments where other students have stayed silent. Posse is a part of the Lafayette community, to remove any element of this program is to lessen our community.
As a Scholar from Posse DC 10, I have and will always stand with The Posse Foundation because it not only gave me the economic opportunity to attend a pretigous college. But it also gave me the necessary academic, social, and emotional support that I need to survive college.
Our Posse Scholars are our leaders... they ignite change on this campus unlike any other group of individuals. It is not about race, diversity, or quotas. It is about the discussion they bring, the perspectives they contribute, and their undying leadership. To cut out part of the program would be a disservice to us all. You can't replicate Posse.
Leadership should not be cut by budgets.
I stand with Posse
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For a college that stresses it's commitment to diversity on all of its advertisements, this comes as an astonishing hypocrisy. Is Lafayette only committed to diversity when it can be exploited for advertising purposes? Put your money where your mouth is.