Reconsider the Smith College 2014 Commencement Speaker
96 Comments
V
Vanessa Raditz
12 years ago
As a recent alumna, I support the voices of current students demanding a reconsideration of Christine Lagarde as commencement speaker. As a graduate student, I now study environmental health sciences and policy, and have seen how the IMF's economic policies make it difficult for nations to refuse resource-depleting projects that are viewed as economically profitable. This becomes a destructive force against their long-term sustainability and adaptability to climate change. Globally, women suffer the most from climate change, especially in regards to accessing water and food for their families, and from Wangari Maathai to Vendana Shiva, they are taking direct action against organizations like the IMF. From our commitment to women globally to the founding of the new CEEDS center for environmental education, the selection of Lagarde as commencement speaker seems to go against what I consider integral to my education at Smith College. This is a step in the wrong direction. We must move beyond calling ourselves "women for the world" and recognize how we are truly "sisters on the planet".
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
2012 Alum
N
Nell Gagnon
12 years ago
Class of '13 alum
R
Rachel Frank
12 years ago
My top pick is Malala, but I understand that might be hard at this late date.
M
Mayra Jimenez
12 years ago
'13 alumna. The white oppressor still exists and she can take the form of a women.
Our girls/women/sisters/ aunts/ mothers & grandmother have fought too long and hard for any equality even in its smallest form.. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE REPRESENTED BY LIKE MINDED WOMEN.
J
Jessica Weaver Boose
12 years ago
I strongly support the well written thoughts of my fellow Smithies.
N
Nandi Marumo
12 years ago
not on our watch!
H
Hannah Muckler
12 years ago
I am beyond disappointed by this choice. Ms. Lagarde represents a corrupt imperialist, racist and neocolonialist financial institution that directly harms not only the economies of the world's poorest countries, but disproportionately a large number of women of color, devastating communities and families with their loan and restructuring policies. I absolutely demand that you revoke your choice of commencement speaker.
T
Tara Amber
12 years ago
come on smith don't you know your students better than this?
K
Katherine Wisniewski
12 years ago
Smith College, by choosing Ms. Lagarde, is allying itself with the IMF's history of violence towards women, people of color, and the 99%
O
Oluwa Jones
12 years ago
horrible
K
Katherine Sumner
12 years ago
It was in a Smith classroom that I first learned about the problems that the IMF has wrought on the Global South, and how those problems have affected women's lives for the worse. As a graduating senior, I would be disappointed, to say the least, if a representative of that institution were honored and endorsed by a community that I am a part of.
M
MacKenzie J. Hamilton
12 years ago
The IMF has made its mark on history in countless unspeakable ways, using countries ravaged by colonialism to continue Western dominance over the world economic system. This is not an institution to celebrate or support.
F
Fuchsia Spring
12 years ago
Frankly, I would boycott the commencement ceremony if I graduating. Extremely disappointed in this choice.
I
Isabella Yeager
12 years ago
While Ms. Lagarde's professional and personal accomplishments advance the presence of women on the world stage, the negative effects that corrupt corporate and privatized industries and international organizations have on minorities and the poor, not to mention women, outweigh the benefits of Ms. Lagarde's influence. Smith could do a much better job at making a statement than to promote what is essentially still an Old Boys Club of patriarchy and corruption, whether or not powerful women participate in it.
As a recent alumna, I support the voices of current students demanding a reconsideration of Christine Lagarde as commencement speaker. As a graduate student, I now study environmental health sciences and policy, and have seen how the IMF's economic policies make it difficult for nations to refuse resource-depleting projects that are viewed as economically profitable. This becomes a destructive force against their long-term sustainability and adaptability to climate change. Globally, women suffer the most from climate change, especially in regards to accessing water and food for their families, and from Wangari Maathai to Vendana Shiva, they are taking direct action against organizations like the IMF. From our commitment to women globally to the founding of the new CEEDS center for environmental education, the selection of Lagarde as commencement speaker seems to go against what I consider integral to my education at Smith College. This is a step in the wrong direction. We must move beyond calling ourselves "women for the world" and recognize how we are truly "sisters on the planet".
2012 Alum
Class of '13 alum
My top pick is Malala, but I understand that might be hard at this late date.
'13 alumna. The white oppressor still exists and she can take the form of a women.
'13 alum. Women for the w
I am an alumna and I fully support
[email protected]
hellz yes
Our girls/women/sisters/ aunts/ mothers & grandmother have fought too long and hard for any equality even in its smallest form.. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE REPRESENTED BY LIKE MINDED WOMEN.
I strongly support the well written thoughts of my fellow Smithies.
not on our watch!
I am beyond disappointed by this choice. Ms. Lagarde represents a corrupt imperialist, racist and neocolonialist financial institution that directly harms not only the economies of the world's poorest countries, but disproportionately a large number of women of color, devastating communities and families with their loan and restructuring policies. I absolutely demand that you revoke your choice of commencement speaker.
come on smith don't you know your students better than this?
Smith College, by choosing Ms. Lagarde, is allying itself with the IMF's history of violence towards women, people of color, and the 99%
horrible
It was in a Smith classroom that I first learned about the problems that the IMF has wrought on the Global South, and how those problems have affected women's lives for the worse. As a graduating senior, I would be disappointed, to say the least, if a representative of that institution were honored and endorsed by a community that I am a part of.
The IMF has made its mark on history in countless unspeakable ways, using countries ravaged by colonialism to continue Western dominance over the world economic system. This is not an institution to celebrate or support.
Frankly, I would boycott the commencement ceremony if I graduating. Extremely disappointed in this choice.
While Ms. Lagarde's professional and personal accomplishments advance the presence of women on the world stage, the negative effects that corrupt corporate and privatized industries and international organizations have on minorities and the poor, not to mention women, outweigh the benefits of Ms. Lagarde's influence. Smith could do a much better job at making a statement than to promote what is essentially still an Old Boys Club of patriarchy and corruption, whether or not powerful women participate in it.