30 VCU Students take over President's office to demand changes

[underpants]

http://m.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/article_4a05d70e-99fe-539f-9097-8415205caafd.html?mode=jqm

I can't copy and paste text for some reason. Please see link.

[philosslayer]

1. It's starting...

And gaining steam. Mizzou, Ithaca College, and now VCU......

This all has it's roots in the Black Lives Matter movement. Change is coming!!!

[kwolf68]

3. How so

the fact the 30 students don't like the statistical representation of the professor pool is equated to what we see on the streets?

Are they saying their education is being compromised in some way? No evidence. Just nebulous anecdotes about "only talking to white people" for 4 years which is utter BS, unless that school has changed a lot since I went there.

Do they have any evidence that black professor candidates are being bypassed to maintain some sort of white status? Do the students care about the quality of the professors? Would they recommend replacing better qualified non-blacks with blacks?

[FSogol]

12. Their demands seem reasonable.

Among the demands are to double the number of black faculty members to 10 percent of the total number of professors by 2017, to have at least one of every three candidates interviewing for a faculty position be black, and to create a position to make sure the policies are being implemented.

The students also demand the creation of a cultural competency course for all students and the hiring of an ombudsman so students have someone who will understand their experiences and concerns.

The students also want to see an increase in funding for cultural organizations and events on campus.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. Purdue is getting in on the action after Mitch Daniels' insane letter

Coming to a campus near you.

[philosslayer]

19. Insane letter?

Got a link? Or an excerpt?

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. Here

http://www.jconline.com/story/news/2015/11/12/mizzou-conflict-ignites-purdue-protest/75643876/

See also #boilersofpurdue hashtag blowin' up Twitter.

[philosslayer]

24. Quite a dick, isn't he.

[philosslayer]

21. The Insane Letter from Mitch Daniels

The President of Purdue University:

Events this week at the University of Missouri and Yale University should remind us all of the importance of absolute fidelity to our shared values. First, that we strive constantly to be, without exception, a welcoming, inclusive and discrimination-free community, where each person is respected and treated with dignity. Second, to be steadfast in preserving academic freedom and individual liberty.

“Two years ago, a student-led initiative created the ‘We Are Purdue Statement of Values,’ which was subsequently endorsed by the University Senate. Last year, both our undergraduate and graduate student governments led an effort that produced a strengthened statement of policies protecting free speech. What a proud contrast to the environments that appear to prevail at places like Missouri and Yale. Today and every day, we should remember the tenets of those statements and do our best to live up to them fully.


I'll let DUers be the judge....

[riderinthestorm]

2. Excellent!! Big K&R! An excerpt for you underpants...

About 30 Virginia Commonwealth University student activists took over the school president’s office Thursday morning demanding, among other things, an increase in the number of black professors and more cultural competency training on campus. The students took over first floor of the office on Franklin Street about 10 a.m.

Snip

What followed was not a 1960s-style protest rife with tension but an open and frank conversation about the issues black students confront at VCU.

The students talked about feeling like outsiders on campus and alienated at a place to which they turned to improve their future. Several said they were angry and felt abandoned by the university.

Participating in that conversation was Michael Rao, VCU’s president, who came downstairs when he heard the students and sat on an end table listening to them for more than two hours.

[underpants]

6. Thanks

[FSogol]

8. Note that VCU president, Michael Rao seems to be brighter than his Mizzou counterpart. n/t

[FSogol]

4. My youngest son is a sophomore there. From today's Richmond Times-Dispatch:

VCU says 5 percent of its professors are black. Fifteen percent of the student body is black.

snip

Among the demands are to double the number of black faculty members to 10 percent of the total number of professors by 2017, to have at least one of every three candidates interviewing for a faculty position be black, and to create a position to make sure the policies are being implemented.

The students also demand the creation of a cultural competency course for all students and the hiring of an ombudsman so students have someone who will understand their experiences and concerns.

The students also want to see an increase in funding for cultural organizations and events on campus.

I would have thought the AA population at the school was higher than 15%. Seems like very reasonable positions.

Whole article here:
http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/article_4a05d70e-99fe-539f-9097-8415205caafd.html

[underpants]

5. Really?

Good for him. There is actually a waiting list there now.

1996 Grad myself - obviously there was no waiting list then.

[FSogol]

10. Cool. I had friends there in the late 80s and spent a lot weekends there. Richmond

had a decent punk rock scene. In the late 90s, my company did some design work all around the campus and I went there every other week for meetings and construction inspections.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

7. 25 football 15 basketball programs

Can knock down the house of cards. Students are powerless indentured servants. It's like the Tea Party. The universities built the empire and athletes now have the power to bring immediate change.

[FSogol]

9. VCU doesn't have a football team, which is unique in the area for that size school. n/t

[underpants]

11. And they damn well better not get one

Football teams are money pits. old Dominion and Christopher Newport started teams in the last 10 years or so but they did it with a lot of alumni contributions. VCU doesn't need a football team.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

13. These little programs are irrelevant

As are students.

25 football and 15 basketball programs will cost universities, sponsors, networks $1 billion or more.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. VCU men's basketball is a powerhouse

Making the NCAA tournament each of the last five years, and the final four in 2011.

[FSogol]

23. True, but Shaka Smart left for greener pastures. This year might not be the best for them. n/t

[underpants]

14. If the basketball team joins in this BAM!

VCU basketball is king on that campus. No football team.

As I noted elsewhere on this thread - there is now a waiting list to get into VCU. That was not the case ever before, certainly not we I got in. Reasons for the increase in applications? The school expanded dramatically under the prior Presidrnt AND the basketball team was hugely successful (Shaka Smart). Add in that Ruchmond is the only "big city" in the area and a lot of kids want to live in the city now. Not be trapped at a rural school. #1 Arts school in the country too.

I thought Pres. Rao handled that's really well.

[FSogol]

15. Shaka Smart left after last season.

[underpants]

16. :-(

It was going to hapoen but he waiting for the perfect job (shrugging off ICLA and others ) at Texas.

[KG]

17. solidarnosc.