A nationwide movement

Many students have joined the struggle for fairness, which has resulted in a nationwide movement for campus reform. In fact, as of December 2015, students have presented lists of race-equality demands to at least 78 universities and colleges across the nation. The events set forth below are a few recent instances of the burgeoning movement for campus equality and inclusion.

University of Missouri-Columbia. In September 2015, Payton Head, an African-American student, walked with a friend through campus. A passenger in a passing pickup truck assaulted Mr. Head with a string of racial epithets. Mr. Head responded to the incident with a detailed Facebook post that included accounts of similar experiences and expounded on the exclusionary plight of racial minorities on campus. The Facebook post went viral. In the following months, students organized as "Concerned Student 1950" (the date of the University's admission of its first African American student) to protest racially-charged incidents on campus and attempted in vain to obtain an audience before University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe. On October 21, 2015, Concerned Student 1950 issued a list of demands to the University. Then real power was exerted. On November 2, 2015, a student announced that he would commence a hunger strike until President Wolfe resigned. On November 7, 2015, members of the University's Football Team announced their refusal to participate in football activities for the duration of the season unless President Wolfe was removed. In the face of escalating pressure, President Wolfe resigned.
Claremont McKenna College. On October 23, 2015, Claremont McKenna College student Lisette Espinosa published an article detailing the discrimination she had experienced on campus. In response to the article, Mary Spellman, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, emailed Ms. Espinosa to thank her for the article and invite her for a discussion. Dean Spellman emphasized the importance of "working on how we can better serve students, especially those who don't fit our [Claremont McKenna] mold"—a phrase that offended many students who felt that the college was not addressing the needs of minorities. Many students protested, including two hunger strikers, and emphatically demanded Dean Spellman's removal. More than 100 faculty members signed a statement supporting the student protesters, while at the same time over 300 students signed an open letter in support of the dean. Dean Spellman ultimately resigned, and the college's president created two new positions which will focus on diversity issues.
University of Cincinnati On July 19, 2015, a University of Cincinnati Police Officer pulled over Sam Dubose, a non-student African-American Cincinnati resident, near campus for a traffic violation. In the ensuing incident, the officer shot and killed Dubose, which led to a series of highly-charged national headlines, a social media barrage, protests, and concerns raised not only by students, but by faculty, alumni, community groups, clergy, civil rights organizations, and others. Shortly after the fall semester commenced, students formed the group "The Irate8" which announced its arrival by hijacking the Twitter hashtag #hottestcollegeinamerica in an effort to express disappointment in how the University had acknowledged the shooting and the need for campus reform. On October 15, 2015, The Irate8 issued a list of demands to the university. Unsatisfied with the nature of President Ono's response, students expanded participation in protests.

Addressing grievances and demands

As illustrated by University of Missouri former President Wolfe and Claremont McKenna College former Dean Spellman, demands for resignations pose a legitimate threat to ill-prepared university and college administrators. Concerned Student 1950 targeted President Wolfe at the homecoming parade because he did not respond to its request for a dialog. He publicly responded only after the student started his hunger strike and only one day before the financially and powerful alumni-influential football team declared support for the cause. President Wolfe aptly remarked, "Had I gotten out of the car to acknowledge the students and talk with them, perhaps we wouldn't be where we are today."

Instant Insights /

Embracing campus diversity and addressing racial unrest

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