Stronger Support for Black Students at St. Catherine's

We have not come far enough for black students...they need the support of the whole community to be fully integrated into what has been a racist system.

I was class of '76, my mother was '40, and my grandmother, Margaret McGuire Gordon, went to Miss Jennies. .Please institute these changes in their memory. Thank you!

Walk the talk.

I agree whole heartedly with all of the expectations listed in this petition. As a black alumni, I hope to see the evidence of accomplishing these goals for the benefit of all St. Catherine students.

Class of 1995

Love this and it is so necessary!

On the one hand, I developed some of my deepest friendships at St. Catherine's and received an education that has allowed me to prosper. On the other hand, my memories of St. Catherine's are marred by exclusion, discrimination and racism. From the "me" doll we were asked to create in kindergarten with only White fabric available, to being singled out from my friends because they needed someone "darker" for a promotional photo to the even more blatant racism of some of the teachers, the St. Catherine's I knew was far from inclusive. I sign this petition in hopes that St. Catherine's can do the hard, uncomfortable work to do better, to be better. Class of '99

A 1st-gen American and black graduate of the class of 2000, I have mostly dissociated from this institution, which provided me with a solid academic education and an even better window into the world of white privilege. Observing the vast majority of black people on campus in custodial and food service roles was damaging, as was the statement by a (substitute) teacher in 2nd grade that racism is bad, but Thomas Jefferson was "good to his slaves" - a quote I will never forget as long as I live... Enlightening conversations in the senior lounge with white classmates who openly discussed their near-guaranteed acceptance at higher learning institutions due to "legacy" and the amount of money their families had donated, a classmate who openly displayed huge confederate flags at school with no repercussions, being repeatedly photographed as an example of diversity in TONS of St. Catherine's Now publications over my 12 years there... THESE are the impressions of my alma mater that have stuck with me for more than 20 years. More diverse faculty/leadership is the minimal requirement for students of color to see themselves represented positively. Shining a spotlight on privilege is absolutely essential. I would love to replace frustrating memories with concrete examples of a truly honest commitment to diversity.

As the mother of two minority daughters at StC since 2009, I wholeheartedly support this petition. Even microaggressions by both students and teachers can have long term impacts on a child’s mental health and success in school. These students of color deserve all that is stated in this petition — not just tokenized diversity and inclusion. There is so much I love about this place and there is nothing more that I’d rather do than change it for the better.

Father of current STC student

Journey ahead, but this is the first step. Class of 1999

I fully support this petition. I hope St. Catherine’’s makes the necessary changes to create an inclusive environment for the members of its African American student body and the community beyond its gates. I also hope this movement ignites change in our collective thoughts and actions towards all minority populations.

Hopeful St C seizes this moment for deep self-reflection, and ultimately chooses to take swift and meaningful action.

Class of 2000. The commitments laid out in this petition are long overdue. I support every word.

It takes some moxie for me to comment, old white dude that I am. But thirty one years out there on Grove Avenue must count for something. So here goes. Two phrases come to mind in this moment: plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. That, to me in the context of St. C's is pretty much self-explanatory. And then, the other, "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." Long is right and now I hope that we can somehow jump up to yank it down here, to 6001 Grove Avenue and environs in particular sooner than perhaps we ever thought possible. I'd love to be able to help in any way that I can and I hope that this signature is a start.

Class of 2010

I benefited immensely from the friendship with diverse students at St. C (black, Latina, international students, ..) and I witnessed some atrocious, blatantly racist acts (eg. The confederate flag was flown by a student and the admin did not immediately request it be taken down- they, instead, protected the student's first amendment right though the confederate flag is a symbol of slavery. The incident made students of color feel very unsupported). This petition urges the school to do better with better training and commitments for preparing students. I'd also urge the school to include diversity statement requirements for hires and board appointees in order to evaluate commitments to diversity. It would go a long way to have the school issue a public statement - as St. Christopher's did via Twitter/ Facebook/the school website - that unequivocally condemns police brutality and states the Black Lives Matter. C/o 2000 June Queen

Additionally, point out the faults in the statement released.

Signing in support of my two grace daughters who attended St. Catherine's as well as my friend Dr. Anne Charity Hudley who attended and who alerted me to this petition.

This is very important! St Catherine’s the opportunity to lead the way!