you're free to feel that way.....your right.......

Don't focus on my race exclusively to escape the reality of YOURS.......

Published November 13, 2015
By Kaitlyn D’Onofrio

ithaca-protests-350

The rallies and walkouts at the University of Missouri have inspired students at other colleges to fight for e******y on their own campuses as well. This week, students at Ithaca College launched their own protests and are calling for their president, Tom Rochon, to step down as well.

The college, named for its location in Ithaca, New York, sees statistics similar to Missouri when it comes to diversity — or the lack thereof. During the fall of 2015, 71 percent of students were reported to be white, while just 5.5 percent were Black, according to the school’s website. Similarly, in the fall 2014 semester, 87 percent of the college’s employees were white, while just 11 percent were Black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.

[RELATED STORY: Missouri and R****m Back in the News: Mizzou President Resigns]

A protest on the school’s campus yesterday, organized by the People of Color at Ithaca College, saw more than 750 attendees. Activists chanted, “Tom Rochon! No confidence!” The chant refers to a campus-wide v**e the People of Color at Ithaca College has called for that asks students to v**e “confidence” or “no confidence” in Rochon. Students have requested responses by Nov. 30.

Like in Missouri, Ithaca’s faculty is getting involved as well. On Tuesday, the Faculty Council passed a motion to hold its own v**e regarding Rochon. According to the chair of the Faculty Council, Peter Rothbart, the referendum will include full-time faculty members, professional librarians, and phased retired faculty.

[RELATED STORY: Yale Students March Same Day Mizzou Pres. Resigns]

On Tuesday, Rochon announced the creation of a chief diversity officer position at the college. According to Rochon, the process will begin at the end of this semester, and the position will be filled by the spring. He also said students will be informed on who will be on the committee responsible for filling the position.

“Given the importance of the duties of this position for the entire campus, the composition of the committee and the search process itself will be inclusive and t***sparent, with special attention to the needs and perspectives of students, faculty, and staff,” Rochon said.

Currently the school has an associate provost for diversity, inclusion and engagement, Roger Richardson, and he will serve as the interim chief diversity officer.

However, given the growing number of racially charged incidents occurring on campus and the rising racial tensions, Rochon’s attempt at diversity is too late.

Recent Instances of R****m and Campus Responses

One incident being highly cited took place in August during RA training with two campus public safety officers. According to students, one of the officers responded “very aggressively” when students asked how racial profiling is being addressed on campus. Another student was upset when a different officer said he would shoot someone who he saw carrying a BB gun. The comment was reminiscent of the tragic fate of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was gunned down by police while playing with a toy gun. Students have made complaints and a meeting was scheduled between RAs and public safety. However, according to students, race was not discussed at all at the subsequent meeting, and one of the officers involved in the initial incident was not even present.

[RELATED STORY: Mizzou Pres., Chancellor Resign — What Now?]

Another incident occurred on Oct. 8 at an on-campus event, Blue Sky Reimagining, which seeks to “formulate ideas about the evolution of Ithaca College.” One panelist, who is a woman of color, said she had a “savage hunger” to succeed. Following this comment, two Ithaca alumni called the woman a “savage” throughout the remainder of the event.

In a statement responding to what happened at the Oct. 8 event, Rochon said:


In general, the college cannot prevent the use of hurtful language on campus. Such language, intentional or unintentional, exists in the world and will seep into our community. We can’t promise that the college will never host a speaker who could say something r****t, h********c, misogynistic, or otherwise disrespectful. Even so, we reaffirm our commitment to making our campus an inclusive and respectful community.

Of course, no campus will ever have control over people making insensitive or even blatantly r****t comments towards others. However, nowhere in his statement does Rochon elaborate on his “commitment” to diversity and inclusion. He simply “reaffirm[ed]” a commitment that, as far as many students and faculty are concerned, is nonexistent.

Next Course of Action

While a “no confidence” v**e would not force Rochon to resign, it could impact the college’s board of trustees. Tom Grape, the chair of the board, has expressed the board’s support for Rochon. In a statement, Grape said that he and the rest of the board “are in contact on a daily basis with the president and other campus leaders about the issues that are taking place” and said he is “committed to helping the institution address its problems so that we may become the Ithaca College that we all know we can be.”

“We understand that the issues are serious and significant, and we are listening. I am certain that Ithaca College will emerge from this chapter strong and more resolute in its direction forward, and the board and I are actively partnering with Tom Rochon and other campus leaders to make sure that happens,” Grape’s statement concluded.

However, depending on the outcome of the Nov. 30 v**e, it may be too late for Grape’s sentiments as well. The college has already made clear its lack of confidence in Rochon, and it seems unlikely that this will change without swift and significant action.

Oh yeah...gave me better grades than the white boys without even having to do the work also...I thought you knew...... :thumbup:

With your eloquence...I am worried they may fire me and grant you my professorship.... :lol:

That came from a conservative website. Western Journalism....that is your own cannibalizing each other...that is what I meant by imploding duh...that is a internal thing with the GOP...has nothing to do with liberals.........your logic is flawed........

my bad ...imploding was THEIR term to describe trump........go figure.......

maybe if we were r****t we'd celebrate white mass shooters and white people who k**l their kids........

As long as the people who are qualified give me the accolades I wok hard for....a mane-calling muthaphuckah in the peanut gallery means nothing.......got lots of grit...I'm a Texan who doesn't start s**t but don't take it off of others......I'm an intellect....but understand how to be handy with the steel........

we all are entitled to out opinions....our right..........

Hillary 2016...at least 4 more years of righties.....

Yep....being a black doctor when I was young has been good to me....I never thought it would make r****ts that miserable...that wasn't my original intent...but I'm glad it worked out that way.....I'm working on a course in Change Management for this University....will develop it myself....I am going to implement the Business Process Re-engineering Model by the Gartner Group as a a part of the curriculum.....see why I don't have time to post monkey pictures? hahaha......

Let me see you go explain to the klan why thee support Obama.....really? Do you really believe that? especially with this DOJ and black AG....the second one...

read about the increase in black college enrollment at a higher rate than any group, particularly women....also read about the schools all over the country with a 100% black graduation rate and college enrollment rate...this is 2015....keep focusing on the bad...the good will bite the right in da azz.....

for your edification....I'll clarify myself...I mean to say Hillary has a double-digit lead of 20+ points over ANY other candidate for either party....is that more understandable?

you know your Mom dislikes the thought of anyone threatening her job security...you know how Mrs.Slurpee can get.... she.has a masters in drooling down the pubic area...........she will make you go back to your room....