Student rally against racism held in Retreat

Juliana Kiyan Staff Writer

More than 115 students, administrators, faculty, and other members of the College community gathered in the Retreat on Nov. 9 for an anti-racism rally held by a group of students called Students Allied for Equity and Justice (SAEJ). Many students came to express solidarity against racism, which has gained considerable attention following Moderate Independent Conservative Alliance (MICA) and The Imperialist publication controversey that rocked the campus.

The rally featured speakers followed by an open forum and workshops with professors and speakers sharing different perspectives on the issue.

SAEJ is not recognized or authorized as an organization by the Vassar Student Association (VSA). Many members of the SAEJ also identified as concerned students during The Imperialist controversy and MICA de-authorization VSA Council meetings.

Weather conditions forced the rally from its intended location, the library lawn, to an indoor location in the Retreat but the turnout was nonetheless strong. Red and black armbands were offered to attendees, along with handouts and statistics indicating a history of racism on campus. SAEJ’s mission statement described itself as “an organization [of] students of all identities, unified with the purpose of eradicating racist, homophobic, and sexist activity so as to create a safe campus for all members of all the Vassar community.”

Speakers stood before a red and black banner emblazoned with the statement, “Demand Justice. Change Starts Now.” The rally was led by Victor Monterosa ’07 and Cristina Coupal ’07 of SAEJ. David Mata ’07 and Isella Ramirez ’07 of MEChA were the first on stage, discussing the English as a Second Language programs at the Poughkeepsie middle school and high school.

Next, VSA President Rick Rodems ’06 spoke. “Racism has no place at Vassar,” said Rodems.

Allen Lang, National Student and Youth Coordinator for The World Can't Wait! Drive Out The Bush Regime, spoke next, stating seven major problems with the Bush administration, which he said has “relentlessly turned back the hands of time” to accomplish its objectives.
Several administrators were present as well, including Dean of the College JJ Jackson and Associate
Deans of the College Raymon Parker and Ed Pittman.

However, not all students chose to attend. MICA member Graydon Gordian ’07 did not attend the rally, and said that he was not inclined to go to a SAEJ event. “I find SAEJ to be an illegitimate voice in the fight against racism, as I find them to be more concerned with achieving political hegemony and the marginalization of dissenting voices than fighting true racism,” said Gordian in an e-mailed statement.

The rally was opened up to audience remarks at the microphone a half hour in.

“I define myself as an African-American person, but all I’m seen as is ‘oh, its a black guy. Maybe he’s a basketball player,’” said Adam Lee ’06. He noted that he is a transfer student and said, “I do have a real world experience that some others may not have...it is our duty to educate each other on racism and its tendencies...I think a lot of people don’t realize, too, the assumed value of your race.”

The rally also embraced the effort for “Ethnic Studies at Vassar Now.” A number of students signed the petition, which advocated “a breadth of understanding regarding race in relation to other social formations, as well as transnationally and globally.” The discrepancy between the number of tenured white professors and the lack of tenured ethnic professors was referenced throughout the hour-long event. Not everyone present agreed with the petition. Davison House Fellow Lisa Kaul said that the argument for ethnic studies is “narrow-minded.”

“Consider whether you always want to think of your identity as against an antagonistic other,” said Kaul.

Immediately after the rally disbanded, students attended workshops in the College Center that tackled different aspects of racism. Associate Professors of History Ismael Rashid and Maria Hoehn led “Racist Symbols and Imagery,” where they explained the power of racist propaganda.

Many attended “Racism in Our Schools,” with Assistant Professor of English Kiese Laymon and Frankie Perez, counselor at Poughkeepsie High School, guiding the two-hour long discussion. The students and speakers voiced their opinions on a breadth of issues, from stereotyping to the racial division in the room itself.

Others visited “Combating White Privilege” led by Associate Professor of Political Science Tim Longman, and “Feminist Anti-Racism” with Associate and Assistant Professors of Sociology Diane Harriford and Light Carruyo.

Nicole Nemergut ’06, an organizer and member of the Students Activist Union, said, “There was diversity in the views, rather than one united front, with the counter-speech and dialogue.”