The training is back. You pushed until they listened.
November 15, 2021
Final supporters
We, as James Madison University students, staff, and alumni, are deeply disappointed in the JMU's response to a recent article published about the diversity and inclusion training required for student staff.
Trainings of this nature are not new to JMU, with many departments and specialty committees providing difficult conversations on racial justice, privilege and oppression, and equity work across campus. The training was informed by scholarly research within the realm of diversity education. However, rather than supporting their staff in providing these necessary diversity trainings, they apologized to alumni who felt victimized by the very work that has been happening on campus prior to a Fox News article.
Apologizing for white fragility will never make this campus safer for marginalized identities, including students/staff who identify as people of color, LGBTQ+, religious minorities, and other social identities. This administration has weakened our stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion work in higher education as well as created distrust among its alumni, staff, and students who support this work.
Those who sign this petition stand with all departments at JMU doing critical, necessary inclusion work as well as academic departments focused on racial equity. We support the training in question and demand this program, and other diversity trainings that were removed from orientation, to be re-instated.
Knowledge of our privilege will forever govern ignorance toward systemic discrimination in society. We support those at JMU doing the work to educate and dismantle these systems of oppression.
Fox News article about training: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/james-madison-uni...
JMU's official response: https://www.jmu.edu/news/2021/08/20-responsetotrai...
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
August 23, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
August 22, 2021
August 22, 2021
We are approaching the hundred signature mark. Keep pushing so we can show the administration exactly how many people demand these trainings be reinstated.
122 Comments
If the mission of a university is to prepare its students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens, programs which teach students to navigate the complexities of identity are absolutely part of that mission. I seriously regret that my alma mater has approached this moment with such trepidation.
Please continue this training- JMU shouldn't tout diversity as one of its values if they don't follow through on their promises. It's disappointing and hurtful to not prioritize creating a safer more understanding environment for all of their students. This training should be important. Class '20
I received this "controversial" training, and it was an integral part in my challenging my own biases and being more accepting and inclusive of ALL people. Keep Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in our vision and future, for the sake of all!
I think it’s disheartening that a university would rather save face than face issues that it’s student body feels is important. Note that I will not be making any further donations until this matter is resolved
As a public school teacher and alumnus of James Madison, I feel that teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusion is crucial when it comes to building a positive community and a well-functioning society as a whole. I support these trainings for students and staff at James Madison University.
So deeply disappointed in the administrators who shut this training down and I fully support the staff who have been fighting for justice at JMU with their full hearts for years - only to be slapped in the face.
Over 90% of jmu students came from families above the poverty line. We need this training
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The training is back. You pushed until they listened.
November 15, 2021
Final supporters
We, as James Madison University students, staff, and alumni, are deeply disappointed in the JMU's response to a recent article published about the diversity and inclusion training required for student staff.
Trainings of this nature are not new to JMU, with many departments and specialty committees providing difficult conversations on racial justice, privilege and oppression, and equity work across campus. The training was informed by scholarly research within the realm of diversity education. However, rather than supporting their staff in providing these necessary diversity trainings, they apologized to alumni who felt victimized by the very work that has been happening on campus prior to a Fox News article.
Apologizing for white fragility will never make this campus safer for marginalized identities, including students/staff who identify as people of color, LGBTQ+, religious minorities, and other social identities. This administration has weakened our stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion work in higher education as well as created distrust among its alumni, staff, and students who support this work.
Those who sign this petition stand with all departments at JMU doing critical, necessary inclusion work as well as academic departments focused on racial equity. We support the training in question and demand this program, and other diversity trainings that were removed from orientation, to be re-instated.
Knowledge of our privilege will forever govern ignorance toward systemic discrimination in society. We support those at JMU doing the work to educate and dismantle these systems of oppression.
Fox News article about training: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/james-madison-uni...
JMU's official response: https://www.jmu.edu/news/2021/08/20-responsetotrai...
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
August 23, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
August 22, 2021
August 22, 2021
We are approaching the hundred signature mark. Keep pushing so we can show the administration exactly how many people demand these trainings be reinstated.
122 Comments
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings are the bare minimum for an anti racist campus. JMU backing down over a bad faith article creates a troubling precedent for the future and as an alum who wants to support JMU, it makes me rethink may future involvements and giving
If the mission of a university is to prepare its students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens, programs which teach students to navigate the complexities of identity are absolutely part of that mission. I seriously regret that my alma mater has approached this moment with such trepidation.
Please continue this training- JMU shouldn't tout diversity as one of its values if they don't follow through on their promises. It's disappointing and hurtful to not prioritize creating a safer more understanding environment for all of their students. This training should be important. Class '20
I received this "controversial" training, and it was an integral part in my challenging my own biases and being more accepting and inclusive of ALL people. Keep Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in our vision and future, for the sake of all!
I think it’s disheartening that a university would rather save face than face issues that it’s student body feels is important. Note that I will not be making any further donations until this matter is resolved
As a public school teacher and alumnus of James Madison, I feel that teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusion is crucial when it comes to building a positive community and a well-functioning society as a whole. I support these trainings for students and staff at James Madison University.
So deeply disappointed in the administrators who shut this training down and I fully support the staff who have been fighting for justice at JMU with their full hearts for years - only to be slapped in the face.
Over 90% of jmu students came from families above the poverty line. We need this training
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings are the bare minimum for an anti racist campus. JMU backing down over a bad faith article creates a troubling precedent for the future and as an alum who wants to support JMU, it makes me rethink may future involvements and giving