The mural that stretches across the main hall of Griffith shows slaves and women picking what resembles cotton. It also shows other men of color in stereotypical ways, always serving at the hands and feet of Caucasian men. The people in positions of power are only shown as Caucasian men. Due to the sexism, racism, and discriminatory power dynamics, the mural should be taken down. This is not something to proudly display because it does not represent our university today. USciences students should not have to look at this mural only to see that we are NOT represented as the pharmacists, scientists, or doctors that we will become. Instead, we see people of color as servants in tattered clothing, represented to show that we are not good enough. Times are changing, and we are becoming a more inclusive and diverse campus. As a student of this university, sign this petition to take down this disrespectful and outdated mural. Taking it down and archiving or putting it in the museum will acknowledge that it is history, but it no longer represents us as a university.
Updates
April 5, 2018
The stories shared by fellow students regarding how this mural impacts their daily experience on campus remain the primary focus of this effort. I am currently in the process of organizing these accounts to present a clear picture of why a change in our environment is necessary. This conversation is about acknowledging our history while firmly deciding what values we choose to display in our shared halls.
April 5, 2018
Seeing this level of engagement confirms that our community is ready to move past imagery that diminishes our collective identity. This momentum shows that we all carry a shared vision for a campus culture that respects the dignity of every student.
Reached 100 supporters
April 5, 2018
11 Comments
Put it in a museum so we may remember our history, even the bleakest parts of it. May We never repeat it.
Finally someone said it. That mural is just straight up offensive and doesnt belong in a place of learning in 2016.
This whole thing is ridiculous. You cant just erase history because it makes you feel bad. Leave it alone.
Keep the art but put it somewhere where people choose to look at it instead of forcing it on everyone in the main hallway.
Its pretty uncomfortable walking past that every day for class. We are trying to move forward as a school and this just holds us back.
Hey everyone. I'm a student at USciences. I don't want to start a fight, but this petition is misrepresenting the mural, partly because the entire mural isn't even represented. I've started a petition to protect the Griffith Mural. Andrew said it best when he said that there was no intent to cause harm with the mural, and that simply remembering history isn't glorifying the bad parts. I've attached the link to the petition below. More information about my reasoning can be found there. Please, anyone who has read this petition but will not sign, please consider signing mine to support the right to have an uncensored history of medicine. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protect-the-griffith-mural
Please take it away right away take it down right away
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The mural that stretches across the main hall of Griffith shows slaves and women picking what resembles cotton. It also shows other men of color in stereotypical ways, always serving at the hands and feet of Caucasian men. The people in positions of power are only shown as Caucasian men. Due to the sexism, racism, and discriminatory power dynamics, the mural should be taken down. This is not something to proudly display because it does not represent our university today. USciences students should not have to look at this mural only to see that we are NOT represented as the pharmacists, scientists, or doctors that we will become. Instead, we see people of color as servants in tattered clothing, represented to show that we are not good enough. Times are changing, and we are becoming a more inclusive and diverse campus. As a student of this university, sign this petition to take down this disrespectful and outdated mural. Taking it down and archiving or putting it in the museum will acknowledge that it is history, but it no longer represents us as a university.
Updates
April 5, 2018
The stories shared by fellow students regarding how this mural impacts their daily experience on campus remain the primary focus of this effort. I am currently in the process of organizing these accounts to present a clear picture of why a change in our environment is necessary. This conversation is about acknowledging our history while firmly deciding what values we choose to display in our shared halls.
April 5, 2018
Seeing this level of engagement confirms that our community is ready to move past imagery that diminishes our collective identity. This momentum shows that we all carry a shared vision for a campus culture that respects the dignity of every student.
Reached 100 supporters
April 5, 2018
11 Comments
There is nothing racist about this mural. In order for something to be racist there has to be an intent to harm. This mural is clearly not advocating for harm. It seems more likely that the author was intending to capture humanity’s history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. No rational individuals approve of slavery, but to assert that this mural is racist due to an accurate depiction of our tragic history is untrue.
Put it in a museum so we may remember our history, even the bleakest parts of it. May We never repeat it.
Finally someone said it. That mural is just straight up offensive and doesnt belong in a place of learning in 2016.
This whole thing is ridiculous. You cant just erase history because it makes you feel bad. Leave it alone.
Keep the art but put it somewhere where people choose to look at it instead of forcing it on everyone in the main hallway.
Its pretty uncomfortable walking past that every day for class. We are trying to move forward as a school and this just holds us back.
Hey everyone. I'm a student at USciences. I don't want to start a fight, but this petition is misrepresenting the mural, partly because the entire mural isn't even represented. I've started a petition to protect the Griffith Mural. Andrew said it best when he said that there was no intent to cause harm with the mural, and that simply remembering history isn't glorifying the bad parts. I've attached the link to the petition below. More information about my reasoning can be found there. Please, anyone who has read this petition but will not sign, please consider signing mine to support the right to have an uncensored history of medicine. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protect-the-griffith-mural
Please take it away right away take it down right away
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There is nothing racist about this mural. In order for something to be racist there has to be an intent to harm. This mural is clearly not advocating for harm. It seems more likely that the author was intending to capture humanity’s history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. No rational individuals approve of slavery, but to assert that this mural is racist due to an accurate depiction of our tragic history is untrue.