Warren Wilson College: Black Student Union Demands Action and Change

BLACK LIVES MATTER

As an alumni I am ashamed of the inaction of my old college that "claims" to be inclusive.

yeah!

Luv u

listen to your Black students.

Music faculty. Thank you for your vision, leadership, and hard work. I fully endorse the BSU demands, and I will support them in my teaching, scholarship, creative work, personal life, and community involvement at WWC.

English Faculty. I fully support the demands of the BSU.

Thank you BSU for your leadership. It is time we all commit to listening, learning, and action.

Class of 2015 here- step up WWC! These conversations were happening before Ferguson and during ... and then now , what? The changes should have already happened .

I appreciate the clarity and thoughtfulness with which the BSU put together these demands and agree that the College community must address them. As a white person, as the library director and member of the faculty, and as the temporary supervisor of the library circulation crew, I realize that I am in a position of power that allows me to effect positive change towards the demands of the petition.

Creative Writing faculty. I fully support the BSU's demands and work.

Faculty Member in Creative Writing I fully support all these demands for action and change. As a teacher, I aspire toward bell hooks's "education as the practice of freedom"--"to teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students." But I am ever more aware that I remain what Hilton Als calls a "collaborator," a white person whose pursuit of diversity is too often framed as "Who am [I] in relation to you?" In this, I recognize that my complicity in white supremacy is pervasive, even as I direct my attention to it. I have much work to do. I will uplift Black voices in my classes, in the Wilson community, and beyond.

I am a Warren Wilson alumnus and I have seen and been part of the hostile and racist environment at Warren Wilson. I admit to my part in perpetuating prejudice and problematic behavior during my time at Warren Wilson and I think it is time that this school, known by the public for being accepting and liberal, to own up to their own part in fostering racism, prejudice, and the tokenizing of black students, faculty and staff. If Warren Wilson truly is a community, even if it is simply a business masquerading as an idealistic liberal college, it is incumbent upon the institution to ensure safety and equal access to EVERYONE.

Matt Haugh- Thank you Bryan and the Black Student Union for issuing the call to action, and pointing the way forward. I urge our college to follow in kind and detail, to redress the specific and wider health, safety and equity goals outlined. As blacksmith supervisor, I commit to holding myself accountable to this work and community.

I support the BSU in their demands. I will review them as I prepare for classes this summer and fall, and I will invest time and energy into supporting these activities (through my own work and in support of colleagues and students) throughout my career at WWC.

Global Studies faculty. I appreciate the BSU leadership and am in full support of the demands being made. I am committed to real and meaningful change for myself and WWC.

Thank you for raising these important issues we trust WW will address them.

I appreciate and fully support the demands of the BSU. Making these institutional changes not only elevates and improves our college for POC, but also for everyone involved. As a faculty member in the Art Department, I commit to doing the personal work and contributing to the institutional work needed to achieve these demands.

Thanks to the BSU leadership for leading the way and taking the risk to make demands and issuing the Faculty/Staff Call to Action. I'm committed to my own learning, making change in my areas of responsibility, and advocating for equity in areas outside of my responsibility/impact.

I fully support the demands of the BSU, and will improve the training on my work crew, including the cultural competency training that you all have recommended. Black Lives Matter.