Photo courtesy of Robbie Lynch ’24
Celebration and joy while living under oppressive systems is a form of protest. We are gathered. We are happy. We are powerful. And that directly opposes the way the abusive institution would prefer us to be. Thank you all for coming out to celebrate with us tonight. It is through events and demonstrations like this that we are rejuvenated and excited to continue our work.
Every single day we remain in Fanning Hall, we are making Connecticut College history. Every single day it gets harder and harder for the Board of Trustees and the current President Katherine Bergeron to pretend they can survive this for much longer. No other protest in the history of Connecticut College has garnered the level of support this one has. We have the community, the faculty, the staff, our family and friends from all over the country demonstrating their support for us. We’ve created a community bonded in pursuit of our mutual goal of institutional equity, a community many of us deeply felt the absence of. That is why we decided to celebrate today.
Obviously it matters that our demands are met—and we reaffirm that we will not stop protesting until they are—but no matter what happens after this, we have done something the administration never did. We’ve created safe spaces and moments for marginalized communities on a campus that has caused so much pain. We’ve created a community that will bond all of us forever. We’ve found support in each other in a place where we thought we were each stranded alone.
We would like to provide updates on the work that has been done and will be done to meet our demands. Thus far, Student Voices for Equity has had one demands-related meeting. We met with Dean Arcelus, Dean Smith, and Dean Egan. This meeting was the preliminary meeting that will pave the way for us to get real action. Earlier this morning, SGA President Hannah Gonzalez had a follow-up meeting with Dean Norbert and Dean Arcelus.
Despite this start to progress, we will continue to occupy Fanning until we are confident real change will happen. Also, at any point, we will remain prepared to re-occupy Fanning in the event that it is necessary.
This weekend we will be asking student leaders to take on the role of event planning to allow us the space to exclusively focus on laying the groundwork for implementing our demands. More information will be coming as soon as we have it. We are excited for these next steps but we promise the student body that we will not become caught up in the same system that has prevented change. We will always remember we have the power. This is why we will continue to remain in Fanning for the time being. These meetings we have had thus far are simply meetings to have meetings. Our promise to you all is that we shall not mistake them for action and shall remain always focused on our goals.
The real work for institutional change is beginning. We are proud and humbled to have been trusted by the student body up until this point. Going forward, we will make every effort to live up to the aspirations we have set forth. We will have an equitable institution.
In Unity,
Student Voices for Equity
So now attending an elite liberal arts college is “oppressive” and “abusive”? Do you know 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 club country club was merely a venue and nothing more. And more to the point, there is absolutely no evidence that it continues to discriminate. 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 they’ve acknowledged past harms? How do such ridiculous ideas actually help anyone?
If this 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 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.
With all respect, you are repeating yourself!
The fundraiser was just the spark, the straw that broke the camels back.
This protest is about a toxic atmosphere at the college, a non-alignment between the official mission and the lived experience, the discrimination of minorities and much more.
I admire the students who spend what little time and energy they have next to the rigorous academic work they have at Conn, to protest this situation, that has not just developed in the last four weeks.
Many of the Seniors who take part will not even see the results of this protest and still they think it is important to instill the change for future generations.
I am proud of the students.
Go Camels!!
Defy boundaries!
We will one day realize Katrine Bergeron was trying to save us. Why mvst we fight against her? Dont yuo see!
Why don’t y’all just transfer?
If ConnColl is so “oppressive” because you deem it to be insufficiently anti-White, then why choose to come here? Why choose to stay?
A lot of people don’t have the mobility to just up and leave their schools. Your comment resonates with conservatives that hear any critique on America and say “then leave”. You don’t understand people situations or ability to leave. Not only this but many students don’t have the financial or emotional support from their family to leave.
Bro I saw someone in these comments saying “living in white dominated society is oppressive” like you don’t have to stay here
Part of the reason your protest is receiving the most support in the history of Conn protests is because you’re doing this in an age of social media and cell phones.