Photo courtesy of Sam Maidenberg ’23
Night of 3/2: Last night was mostly a quiet evening at Fanning. A group meeting was hosted to discuss SVE updates and check in on all occupiers. Occupiers worked on classwork or group activities such as games and watch parties.
Morning: Some Fanning Occupiers wake up to work on a puzzle. Occupiers eat grilled cheese and homemade vegan tomato soup for lunch while having a full group meeting. Lunch was also accompanied by a watch party of How To Train Your Dragon.
12:50 p.m: The College Voice publishes a faculty statement in support of student protests complete with 155 signatures.
5:30 p.m: Students come together between Fanning and New London Hall to mark the fifth day of Occupy CC 2023, the longest occupation in Connecticut College history. Staged as a community event instead of a protest, the gathering focuses on furthering the bond between students. Music plays and glow sticks are handed out to illuminate the night. Meanwhile, the ongoing effort of poster-making that has provided some of the movement’s most memorable moments is furthered as messages are painted onto large tarps to be displayed on Tempel Green.
All day: In an official communication, SVE outlines next steps as the weekend approaches and spring break looms. Throughout the day, SVE meets as an entire committee to establish benchmarks for each demand, reiterating their commitment to all eight demands. SVE also began conducting meetings with the administration, as Deans Arcelus, Norbert, and Egan, to establish clear lines of communications regarding the future of the College. Finally, SVE reiterates that they will continue to occupy Fanning until the demands are met. Occupiers concurrently agreed to stay in the building as the process toward meeting all eight demands persits. Groups within the broader SVE will continue to meet throughout the weekend to lay out plans for addressing their specific demands, with the ultimate goal of making the College a more inclusive space throughout all sectors of life.
good thing they’re eating vegan, its keeping them weak.
Maybe try my soup before saying it keeps folks weak. They’re the strongest people on campus rn.
This comment is dripping of ignorance, sorry!
You can research the world class athletes who changed to a vegan diet, because it enhances their performance.
And then you can continue to destroy the environment our children are supposed to survive in.
Yes, I can see why our children think adults are ignorant and malevolent when they even make fun about a dietary choice that is supposed to help stabilize the climate, save the environment and is healthier than the average US diet.
Today SVE called Connecticut College “oppressive” and “abusive”. They actually believe those are the best words to describe attending an elite college. Think about how offensive that must sound to people who have experienced real oppression and abuse?
It’s very difficult to take SVE’s demands seriously, especially when their initial objection (KB’s plan to attend the fundraiser) makes absolutely no sense. Basically, they’re demanding more money be spent on specific programs while at the same time rejecting money (“racist money”) without good reason.
The Everglade Club was merely a venue and nothing more. More to the point, there is absolutely no evidence that the club still discriminates. That Jewish and black people continue to not be members of the club is not evidence of discrimination. Rather, it’s simply evidence that Jewish and black people are—very understandably—not interested in joining the club.
If one goes back 50 years, every dollar in this country is connected—in one way or another—to discrimination or outright exploitation. Every. Single. Dollar. Thus, all fundraising would be rendered impossible if the college were to abide by the misguided philosophy of these protesters.
Bergeron SHOULD be taking money from wealthy, historically privileged places like country clubs and using it to pay for the education of people of color. That’s the general idea behind restorative justice.
Do we now need to know the 50+ year racial history of every venue that the school uses, and whether or not the venue has acknowledged past harms? How do such ridiculous goals actually help anyone?
If the country club’s past had never come to light, and the fundraiser had been allowed to move forward, NO ONE would have been harmed. In contrast, the protesters are causing very real harm. They have likely made it permanently more difficult for Connecticut College to the raise funds needed to provide financial aid, maintain the campus, and pay staff. Ultimately, this will harm low-income students and families most of all. The protesters’ behavior is a perfect example of performative activism as opposed to real activism. Sadly, performances like this one are fashionable on college campuses these days.
Rather than calling people racist or abusive or oppressive, or trying to get people fired, or creating obstacles to fundraising, the protesters should consider alternative ways of helping people in need. They could be working to end the War on Drugs, helping to build more affordable housing, grappling with ways to improve public schools, advocating for the funding of vocational programs for the working class, helping ex-convicts get jobs, teaching financial literacy, or volunteering at local schools. Such actions are more difficult than occupying a building, yet they would actually make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling.
Just because you are repeating your points for the fifth (?) time ( do you just copy and paste them or do you use Chat GPT?) does not make them more true.
Read the information available and stop writing uninformed nonsense.
Kudos to Nathalie for stepping in!
I can understand how frustrated students must get with the so-called adults in the room!
Maybe don’t create weird little hypotheticals where you think you’re right. Living in a white dominated society as a whole is oppressive. Even the elite institutions like Harvard and Yale have plenty of students of color referring to their experience has harsh and filled with oppression. You simply are trying to create some odd catch 22. I’m sure that you don’t actually even care about issues of diversity or equity but instead trying to find something to lambastre people’s words
Just because you feel “oppressed” and “abused” does not mean that those word accurately describe your condition. Try this: go tell the people who cook food for you every day that you feel oppressed. Tell the people who clean your bathrooms that you feel oppressed. Walk to downtown New London and tell the people working for minimum wage, the construction workers suffering from arthritis, the immigrant taxi drivers, the public-school teachers, or the single parent living on food stamps that you feel oppressed. Head to a domestic shelter and tell them that you feel “abused” because you’re a minority living in America and attending one of most expensive colleges in the country. Hop on a plane and head to the border—I’m sure the migrants there would love to hear about your oppression.
And please take a video of these conversations. I’m sure the footage would capture real moments of solidarity and unity. Ha!
College is hard. But so is life. It’s absolutely disgusting that so many college students would describe their condition as “oppressed.” Is life *generally* harder for people of color? Yes. And have some students experienced real oppression or abuse? Absolutely. But it’s appalling to see such enormous numbers of privileged people describe themselves using these words.
Connecticut College students have completely lost sight of what it means to be an activist. Activism used to be about helping those who are really struggling, not complaining about how hard it is to be a young person attending one of the best liberal arts schools in the country.
Legitimate question; if living in white dominated society is oppressive, why not just go back?
I wanted to let you know that this movement is spearheaded by Black, Asian and Asian-American, Arab, Muslim, Jewish, and International students, students of low socioeconomic status, students who are fighting homelessness, students who need to work 3 jobs to pay tuition, students without citizenship (both undocumented and international), students with disabilities, students who are victims or witnesses of sexual assault, LGBTQIA+ students, even more marginalized identities, and their allies. We have experienced the neglect, dehumanization, and feeling of isolation that Connecticut College has given us. We acknowledge the privilege we have to be here in the first place, but many of my peers find it hard to stay here.
If you want to watch the recording of testimonies from Thursday night, they are on the Student Voices for Equity’s Instagram page, @sve.conncoll, here is the link to part 1: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CpTnk6bOkwS/?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE= .
I think what many of these students have endured counts as abuse. Even if not all of them were caused by Conn, the neglect, lack of support, and general dismissal demonstrated by the college certainly counts as such.
In regards to “racist money”, it is true that the vast majority of money in this country (and around the world) is from racist institutions. It’s impossible and incorrect to deny. However, it is more in the *significance* of the choice: knowing the history of a venue and still choosing to hold a college-sponsored event there despite its past of explicit hatred? That goes against what is supposed to be one of the most integral principles of conn: equity and inclusion. That is the straw that broke the camel’s back — pun partially intended — for former Dean King to resign; not the sole cause, but the final straw of many painful occurrences he had to endure. His resignation brought to light the pain many students had been experiencing for a long time, suffering in silence (as so many marginalized individuals do), and we decided we wouldn’t stand for that anymore.
I hope this helps you to understand what it is we are fighting for — Conn to simply stand behind what they say and support the people who need it the most.
Also, respectfully, i don’t know what you want us to do about the massive amount of insurmountable things you listed at the end. Like obviously we want to end those things but do you think 1,900 college students (adults don’t even listen to us anyways, what’s more fun than diminishing the concerns of 18-20-somethings) can end country-wide systemic oppression in one go? If you want to get started on that and have an action plan, please let me know. K thnx bye <3
Bravo Nathalie!!!!
This was long overdue!
I can’t say how many mission statements I have read in my life and how often they are just hollow words, held up like balloons by hot air.
Thank you all for your efforts!!!
Go Camels!
Sorry to Natalie!!
I misspelled your name in my other comments, because I had the French Version in my head!
That was not intended and not a sign of disrespect!
Here’s an action plan: Conn should eliminate all the “DIEI” nonsense, save that money in the budget, reduce the need to raise “racist money,” and lower tuition for all those struggling students who feel so abused. Then we can just treat everyone of all races equally and get back to classes rather than sitting around eating grilled cheese and watching How to Train Your Dragon.
Students are eating grilled cheese sandwiches! And watching a movie! It’s an outrage!
Natalie- Thank you for your WISE, THOUGHTFUL, FIRST-HAND informed response to “you are hurting people of color”
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!
It is irrelevant that your movement consists of people of various races, creeds, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, disabilities, and socioeconomic statuses. The people who are against your movement are also a diverse group, though many are too scared to speak up for fear of being called a “racist”, a “white supremacist,” an “oppressor,” “abusive”, or a person who is “complicit in their own oppression.” These are the names that people get called when they even question your movement.
As for the other types of people you mentioned—of course I have sympathy for those who are fighting homelessness, need to work three jobs, are undocumented, or have experienced sexual assault. (I’m not sure why you would list these people alongside the many other identities you mentioned—but I digress.)
What I would really like to know is how exactly does SVE’s demands—or DIEI in general—specifically address the needs of those who have survived sexual assault, or who are undocumented, fighting homelessness, or working three jobs? SVE’s most relevant demand seems to be this one: “Establish greater and distinct resources for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, undocumented, international, first-gen, Disabled, and low-income students.”
If you’re calling for “distinct” resources, don’t you think that requires a little specificity? What resources would make a difference, and how exactly would they make a difference? Are there currently no resources for some of these groups? If there are resources, how are they coming up short? Should we simply create more resources, or should we focus on improving the resources that currently exist? Did SVE or DIEI think about these questions before SVE began occupying Fanning? If there was adequate forethought, I have yet to see evidence of it.
Since your movement is wholeheartedly against accepting any money from institutions that are insufficiently antiracist, I guess we’re going to need to start cutting programs to make room for all the new “distinct resources” you’re envisioning. What exactly should we cut?
Again, canceling the fundraiser made no sense. Bergeron SHOULD be taking money from wealthy, historically privileged places like country clubs and using it to pay for, among other things, the education of people of color. That’s the general idea behind restorative justice.
I read about and watched students’ testimonies. Frankly, I didn’t hear anything that convinced me that any of the college’s policies were “dehumanizing”, “oppressive”, or “abusive”.
Just because you feel “oppressed” and “abused” does not mean that those word accurately describe your condition. Try this: Tell the people who cook food for you every day that you feel oppressed. Tell the people who clean your bathrooms that you feel oppressed. Walk to downtown New London and tell the people working for minimum wage, the construction workers suffering from arthritis, the immigrant taxi drivers, the public-school teachers, or the single parent living on food stamps that you feel oppressed. Head to a domestic shelter and tell them that you feel “abused” because you’re a minority living in America and attending one of most expensive colleges in the country. Or hop on a plane and head to the border—I’m sure the migrants there would love to hear about your oppression.
Rather than calling people racist or abusive or oppressive, or trying to get people fired, or creating obstacles to fundraising, or occupying buildings, or believing that DIEI can help more than it already does, consider these alternative ways to fight for justice:
– You could learn how the War on Drugs has caused much needless suffering. Ending it would significantly help lessen mass incarceration, reduce gang violence, minimize the appeal of selling drugs, help people with addictions, and decrease the number of tense interactions between police officers and citizens. What’s more, 83% percent of the country believes the War on Drugs has failed. Connecticut College students could be organizing people from multiple liberal arts college around the idea of ending—or at least radically reshaping—current drug policy. Once you’re organized, you could head to Washington and protest there.
– You could learn about current housing policy in the New London area, learn about NIMBYism, and develop ideas for how more affordable housing could be built for low-income families in the area. If there are people standing in your way, consider protesting them.
– You could volunteer at local schools or allow local students to come on campus to get free tutoring. Imagine if every Conn student tutored a New London high school student for a couple hours every week. That could make a big difference in people’s lives.
– You could think about how the idea of equity is related to vocational training for the working class. Has a focus on equity caused us as a society to push too many people into college? Are there ways for Conn’s maintenance team to offer apprenticeships for New London residents, where they could learn skills that would help them find employment elsewhere?
– You could work with local government agencies (or local law enforcement) to see if there are ways you can help ex-convicts find employment. Many people with a record are unable to get even the most low-level jobs. It’s awful and it shouldn’t be that way. If state or federal policy/bureaucracy is standing in the way of change (which I believe it is), consider organizing people from multiple liberal arts college to protest such policies.
– Teach financial literacy to people at your school who lack it. It could benefit their lives *tremendously* 5-10 years from now. I bet more rich white guys—compared to any other student demographic—have a basic understanding of investing principles, or what an index fund is. Change that.
I hope everything I’ve written has helped you see things from at least a slightly difference perspective. Good luck.
The vitriole of those opposing the protesting students is disturbing. Whether they are students, parents, alumni, faculty or staff we do not know. But we do know that their hate-filled speech lends further authenticity to what the protesters are saying.
This is circular logic. You’re basically saying that because others vehemently disagree with the protesters, it shows the protesters are correct. But one could use that argument for literally any debate in which two sides strongly disagree.