The political strategy to occupy public spaces is a tendency of contemporary political activism that we can observe from Wall Street, to Tahrir square, to Gezi park in Turkey and beyond. Since the demands of "Whose Diversity?" are broadly recognized as legitimate by the Universities own rhetoric and stated policy goals, this specific non-violent tactic should also be tolerated and respected. To charge these students would not just be antidemocratic but will also place the University on the wrong side of history and at odds with the fundamental values of equality and freedom of expression that we all advocate to hold dear. These students deserve praise, not persecution. This institution should rejoice in having produced among its ranks student will such public spirit. We should all admire and emulate the selflessness with which they advanced their legitimate demands. To attempt to silence their voices is to perpetuate anomie, repression and inequality.
M
María Rebolleda-Gómez
10 years ago
There has been already enough harm being done. These students continue to fight for a more inclusive education. There is no need to take measures that will further exclude these students. The university should engage in these conversations and consider sending a message showing that different voices matter and are being heard.
A
Anthony Jimenez
10 years ago
In solidarity.
S
Stephen Suh
10 years ago
I stand in solidarity with the students of Whose Diversity?
S
Shelby Flint
10 years ago
Featured
The students in question have faced the consequences of their actions through acceptance of the offer from the Minneapolis city attorney. Pursuing additional punishment through the university system is vindictive, divisive, and misses an opportunity for the university to demonstrate, by example, how to handle grievances and disagreement civilly and constructively.
S
Shannon Waterman
10 years ago
Drop the charges!
R
Raechel Tiffe
10 years ago
Featured
I am in full support of and in solidarity with these brave students. Drop the charges!
"“You are talking about systematically closing down departments that have you language to talk about diversity and racism, and you’re saying they’re not worthy." — Jesús Estrada-Perez
E
Elizabeth Williams
10 years ago
These brave students are representing the marginalized voices of a great many more of their peers. They should be congratulated, not punished.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Yes, I support this cause. Please contact me anytime at 6122480392. I can add more voice to this important matter.
A
Adam Lyon
10 years ago
Hell yeah.
I
Idalia Robles
10 years ago
I stand in solidarity with these courageous students, who are taking a much-needed stance on behalf of all students, staff, and faculty at UMN. Drop the charges NOW!
S
Sarah Suarez
10 years ago
Where is the University leadership's sense of shame or self-awareness? While I am not a part of this Whose Diversity group, I owe them a lot for caring about students in ways that the University has utterly failed to. It has become dishearteningly clear to me that the University is perfectly content to engage in nothing but pageantry. Efforts like "design thinking"--which I can say from personal experience create change at a slow rate--are being presented by the University leadership to create the shiny illusion of valuing diversity at the top levels of University administration. Meanwhile, the resident experts--students from marginalized backgrounds with concrete ideas and legitimate concerns--are being suffocated even when their bright suggestions have already had a positive impact on our community.
I understand that some of this groups' ideas may be unrealistic to implement as they envision, but it is truly crazy is to criminalize or punish them for trying to get these ideas taken seriously. No one was in danger but the students themselves. The inconvenience President Kaler faced because of them pales in comparison to the struggles that so many of the students in his University face every day. Struggles that Whose Diversity was bringing to him. Where is his empathy? What kind of place of learning shoots down ideas about how to support students who need it most? What is being achieved by marginalizing the already-marginalized?
As a minority student myself, I have struggled to feel a sense of belonging on campus, and this hostility from the University leadership has felt like a slap in the face. I am unable to wholeheartedly encourage brilliant talents to pursue graduate study at the University of Minnesota out of fear that they, too, will have their concerns silenced. How could I enthusiastically support a community whose leadership has made it abundantly clear that people like me are not truly welcome, our struggles and concerns are not truly of interes
N
Nicholas Goldsmith
10 years ago
We should be proud of these students, not punishing them!
M
Mitch Grace
10 years ago
People don't do this kind of thing just for the fun of it. Please consider where this group is coming from, why they chose this action, and - crucially - that they and their cause are supported by many, many more, and don't subject them to further disciplinary action. Please, just stop.
A
Ana Claudia dos Santos Sao Bernardo
· petition starter
10 years ago
It is about time for students to support Whose Diversity? Let's not stand in the shadows, let's make our voices to be heard during the hearings! Drop the charges against Rahsaan and David.
In solidarity
The political strategy to occupy public spaces is a tendency of contemporary political activism that we can observe from Wall Street, to Tahrir square, to Gezi park in Turkey and beyond. Since the demands of "Whose Diversity?" are broadly recognized as legitimate by the Universities own rhetoric and stated policy goals, this specific non-violent tactic should also be tolerated and respected. To charge these students would not just be antidemocratic but will also place the University on the wrong side of history and at odds with the fundamental values of equality and freedom of expression that we all advocate to hold dear. These students deserve praise, not persecution. This institution should rejoice in having produced among its ranks student will such public spirit. We should all admire and emulate the selflessness with which they advanced their legitimate demands. To attempt to silence their voices is to perpetuate anomie, repression and inequality.
There has been already enough harm being done. These students continue to fight for a more inclusive education. There is no need to take measures that will further exclude these students. The university should engage in these conversations and consider sending a message showing that different voices matter and are being heard.
In solidarity.
I stand in solidarity with the students of Whose Diversity?
The students in question have faced the consequences of their actions through acceptance of the offer from the Minneapolis city attorney. Pursuing additional punishment through the university system is vindictive, divisive, and misses an opportunity for the university to demonstrate, by example, how to handle grievances and disagreement civilly and constructively.
Drop the charges!
I am in full support of and in solidarity with these brave students. Drop the charges! "“You are talking about systematically closing down departments that have you language to talk about diversity and racism, and you’re saying they’re not worthy." — Jesús Estrada-Perez
These brave students are representing the marginalized voices of a great many more of their peers. They should be congratulated, not punished.
Yes, I support this cause. Please contact me anytime at 6122480392. I can add more voice to this important matter.
Hell yeah.
I stand in solidarity with these courageous students, who are taking a much-needed stance on behalf of all students, staff, and faculty at UMN. Drop the charges NOW!
Where is the University leadership's sense of shame or self-awareness? While I am not a part of this Whose Diversity group, I owe them a lot for caring about students in ways that the University has utterly failed to. It has become dishearteningly clear to me that the University is perfectly content to engage in nothing but pageantry. Efforts like "design thinking"--which I can say from personal experience create change at a slow rate--are being presented by the University leadership to create the shiny illusion of valuing diversity at the top levels of University administration. Meanwhile, the resident experts--students from marginalized backgrounds with concrete ideas and legitimate concerns--are being suffocated even when their bright suggestions have already had a positive impact on our community. I understand that some of this groups' ideas may be unrealistic to implement as they envision, but it is truly crazy is to criminalize or punish them for trying to get these ideas taken seriously. No one was in danger but the students themselves. The inconvenience President Kaler faced because of them pales in comparison to the struggles that so many of the students in his University face every day. Struggles that Whose Diversity was bringing to him. Where is his empathy? What kind of place of learning shoots down ideas about how to support students who need it most? What is being achieved by marginalizing the already-marginalized? As a minority student myself, I have struggled to feel a sense of belonging on campus, and this hostility from the University leadership has felt like a slap in the face. I am unable to wholeheartedly encourage brilliant talents to pursue graduate study at the University of Minnesota out of fear that they, too, will have their concerns silenced. How could I enthusiastically support a community whose leadership has made it abundantly clear that people like me are not truly welcome, our struggles and concerns are not truly of interes
We should be proud of these students, not punishing them!
People don't do this kind of thing just for the fun of it. Please consider where this group is coming from, why they chose this action, and - crucially - that they and their cause are supported by many, many more, and don't subject them to further disciplinary action. Please, just stop.
It is about time for students to support Whose Diversity? Let's not stand in the shadows, let's make our voices to be heard during the hearings! Drop the charges against Rahsaan and David.