Dear Connecticut College Parents,
We are Student Voices for Equity (SVE), a newly formed alliance of student organizations that advocates for institutional, structural, and social change within Connecticut College.
We understand President Bergeron has, in an email, communicated to you all, “the sudden resignation of former Dean Rodmon King in February upset many people on our campus.” While the campus community is certainly ‘upset’ by his resignation, in an effort to include you in the conversation, we must stress that we are also fueled by the mistreatment, disregard, and blatant disrespect of former Dean King in his role as Dean of the Division of Institutional Equity and Inclusion (DIEI). In short, his resignation was the straw that broke the camel’s back. We are currently protesting the consistent and persistent failures of the Connecticut College institution and its President because of the immeasurable detriment it has caused to our student-centered marginalized communities. Far more than ‘upset’, we are working tirelessly to have these issues, barriers, and oppressive systems addressed in the institution’s structure. Essentially, we are striving for equitable access, support, and attention for a genuinely safe and supportive college experience.
To the campus community, DIEI is far more than just another division. For decades, the institution’s lack of consideration and regard for DIEI has left students vulnerable and stranded without support. As it stands, the institution relies on students to assume the taxing responsibility of educating the college community and addressing instances of discrimination. Functioning this way, the College has developed a culture of marginalized groups unknowingly consenting to attend and to participate in an institution marred by bullying, toxicity, and tokenization.
We have presented a list of demands addressing the institutional changes we seek, which have yet to be fully acknowledged by President Bergeron. We are currently engaged in a successful lock-in and occupation of Fanning Hall as an act of peaceful, powerful protest. Fanning is occupied by what we refer to as the Occupy Team, a courageous and motivated group of 28 Connecticut College students. Our demands have been presented to and likely discussed by the Board of Trustees. We will not settle for anything less than an official acceptance of our demands from the Board of Trustees – the first of which is the immediate resignation of President Katherine Bergeron.
SVE and its affiliated students crafted this list of demands with the passionate and heartfelt purpose of addressing the root of the issues affecting our community. This list of demands is linked below and may be shared at your discretion. The Faculty and Staff of Connecticut College have expressed support of the student body and our mission. This support has included delivering food to occupiers, hosting a joint Connecticut College student and faculty protest, and sharing kind messages of encouragement. Faculty have established their own list of demands, which can be viewed below.
As students, we understand a parent’s desire to send their children to Connecticut College in pursuit of a quality college education. Therefore, we imagine many are concerned that protests and the efforts of student activists to disrupt the harmful systemic injustices of this institution may affect your child’s academics. We, as the students leading this movement, understand this sentiment because we are living it with our families and support systems right now.
In calling for students to boycott classes, for instance, we acknowledge the inconvenience and disruption this causes to a Connecticut College student – especially one who perceives themselves to be unaffected or uninvolved in the movement, the issues it addresses, and the conversations it encourages. To this, we humbly invite you to understand the gravity and depth of the inconvenience, discomfort, and disruption that marginalized communities on this campus are forced to confront every single day at this institution and in general. We as SVE, the SVE Occupy Committee, and the college community implore you to recognize the gravity of what we are doing and why we are doing it. Far more than ‘upset’ or sad, we are rightfully outraged at and critical of the Connecticut College leadership and institution. We hope that you, as caring parents and members of this community, are as well.
As previously stated, the SVE List of Student Demands and the Faculty demands are linked here. You can also follow Live Updates through The College Voice, our most trusted and reliable source of information. You may also hear and see more of what we have been up to from SVE directly via instagram (@sve.conncoll), and can contact us via e-mail (studentvoicesforequity@gmail.com).
“CC Alums Against Hate,” a group of recent alumni, has set up a GoFundMe to support our protest efforts, and we would be sincerely grateful for any financial contributions you are willing to make. It would also be incredibly helpful to spread word of our movement. Please sign and share this change.org petition. We are also working to reach national news and media sources, so please reach out to us via email if you have any relevant contacts or connections.
We also encourage you to check in with your child during this stressful yet crucial time of unrest in our college’s history.
Thank you for your support,
Student Voices For Equity
The other day, SVE called Connecticut College “oppressive” and “abusive”. They believe those are the best words to describe attending an elite college.
Just because you feel “oppressed” and “abused” does not mean that those word accurately describe your condition. Please, 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 down to 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. Go to a domestic shelter and tell them that you feel “abused” simply 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 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. And it only gets harder as you get older. It’s absolutely disgusting that so many college students would describe their condition as “oppressed.” 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. Appalling.
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.
Rather than calling people racist or abusive or oppressive, or trying to have people fired, or creating obstacles to fundraising, DIEI and the protesters should consider substantive 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 suffering.
my new favorite dumb copypasta:
“Rather than calling people racist or abusive or oppressive, or trying to have people fired, or creating obstacles to fundraising, DIEI and the protesters should consider substantive 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 suffering.”
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 has real solutions, consider these alternative ways to fight for justice:
– You could learn about how the War on Drugs has caused so 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 at Connecticut College 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* when they’re in the working world 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.
To Zach ’04
There is a saying ” to sweep one’s own steps”, meaning to improve things where you are.
These students are fighting severe inequality among their peers which is exactly what they should do. If only to follow and fulfill the mission of Connecticut College.
Otherwise why not ask them to end the war in Ukraine, reunite North and South Korea, stop climate change, solve the environmental crisis and separate state and church.
There will always be other important issues.
But right now, instead of complaining that they don’t engage with your favourite issues, why not cheer them on for “sweeping their own college steps”?
I am sure as soon as they are clean, these young people will move forward to their next worthy issue.
Go Camels!
Defy boundaries!
International camel mom — It strikes me as deeply problematic that you don’t see New London (and the humans who live there) as “where Conn students are.” In my experience, Conn was such a thick bubble that it was ultimately damaging to one’s understanding of public life and how to meaningfully participate in it.
Except there is literally no inequality at Conn.
International Camel Mom, I’m not going to cheer them on when they’re hurting the school’s ability to raise funds, hurting their fellow students (I can’t believe they convinced the cast and crew of Into the Woods to call off their performance), telling people to boycott classes, calling everyone and everything they possibly can “racist”, “abusive”, “oppressive”, and “dehumanizing”, supporting a former dean who threw our school under the bus, and just generally taking the focus off of the people in society who actually need help.
If there was actual racist behavior towards students or the Conn community, than you would have a point. But there just isn’t. Where is the inequity?.. well it most certainly exists outside out in the real world, but where it doesn’t exist is Conn. The students are purposely hurting the college because they’ve been conned to believe the situation with their DIEI Dean was unjust. That Dean was empowered by another job all lined up when he quit! His behavior is questionable. The students are demanding line items, which have an associated costs, but their very actions hingers the college from fundraising for those said line items.
UConn raised over 1.4 million dollars for charity this last week while Conn is cancelling classes and throwing a hissy fit because their “dean of institutional equity, diversity, and inclusion” found a higher paying job and left
Pathetic faux activism.
Thanks very much to all of the lazy profs for cancelling classes. Certainly worth $80K
Conn is a terrible institution.
You okay, buddy?
No I’m disgusted by the anti-work sentiment
He is right. Imagine paying $80,000 dollars just so classes can get cancelled for a week because a black guy left
To SVE:
Thank you for your actions to make Conn a better place for the whole community!
This demonstration of solidarity among students, faculty and staff is certainly worth every effing Cent I am paying.
To see how the community comes together to fight for equity and to fill the mission statement of Conn with real action instead of hot air, is extraordinary.
The mission statement of Conn was certainly one reason among many to go to Conn.
To discover that much of it looked good on the internet but less so in real life was and still is incredibly stressful.
To see that so many students join their friends of SVE in this fight shows me that at least a great part of Conn’s student community is living up to its mission statement.
Thank you again for all your efforts!
Thank you, international camel mom. I couldn’t have said this better myself.
As a scholar, I find it difficult to wrap my mind around faculty cancelling classes on behalf of 30 students who have chosen this ineffective form of activism. Mostly I am struck by the CV of Dr. King, which sure looks like an offer was made at U Mass, he used it for a tenure grab, and it didn’t work. Tenure is based on principles of academic freedom and if Dr. King was not a professor engaged in research and teaching, then tenure is not appropriate. Also Dr. King spent 10 years at an institution as an asst professor & did not receive tenure. Thereafter he has had multiple DEI positions, none for very long.
If his letter where he claims the president “bullied” and her staff had to concern themself with “will this make Katherine happy” were composed about a male leader, I do not think it would have gotten any air time at all. Read it again and replace the pronouns with he and you may find that you agree.
The truth of employment situations is not for admin to disclose at any institution. And I read in this platform that Dr King left without having another job. But I also read a welcome aboard email to him in early February, at the time of his scathing letter. Students surely do not know how to read a resume for a tumultuous career track, but faculty should be capable.
Of the posters with cruel sentiments and artwork, I think it is a sad reflection born from America’s political strife that these students believe this behavior to be appropriate. It is just simply mean to pick on someone’s hair or appearance for instance. It’s also ineffective and speaks more about the content of the character of the person holding the sign.
I truly thought that Conn was a kind community. I know many Conn alumni who are intelligent and mature, relativistic thinkers who are also committed to helping their communities. As a parent, I now contemplate transfer for my Conn student because the faculty have failed to educate on the countless points being made here by parents and alumni about effective activism, fundraising and financial aid, and most importantly, faculty’s job to educate students in how to become nuanced thinkers capable of executing their own priorities into action.
It is the faculty who are the greatest disappointment here. It will be because of faculty, not an experienced female leader who carried the college since 2014 and through covid, that I will encourage, if not beg, my student to transfer if hateful signs and immaturity are rewarded by the Board of Trustees.
Everybody’s going on and on about Dean King. Can anyone explain what he actually did on a day-to-day basis? What value he brought to Conn? Aside from the couple dozen complainers, does anyone miss him?
Literally nothing. These “diversity specialist” jobs are BS jobs.
The protesting students bring up very legitimate concerns regarding the Division of Institutional Equity and Inclusion not receiving adequate funding, with many members working for no pay and being housed in a space that is not ADA compliant – even having offices in dorm basements with no bathrooms. These are egregious things worth protesting, but I also agree that the choice of the word “oppressive” has so far lacked merit. The very fact that you are protesting and having a positive impact without repercussions, and that classes were canceled last week on the protesters’ behalf due to the support of professors, suggests that this is not an oppressive institution. I say that with great respect for the passion and purpose of the protesting students – with no disregard intended. I do agree however that the messaging from the SVE would benefit from being clearer. It’s reasonable to assume that the parents you’re addressing in this post want the very best for every student at the college and that many, myself included, are making enormous sacrifices to send their student to Conn. I’ve very been disappointed in some aspects of Conn that have nothing to do with the protests. For example, there are far too many adjunct professors – and while this appears to be systemic in academia as a whole – it’s still disappointing. I’ve also felt angry that many of the dorms are in unbelievably poor shape. I believe you when you say that you’ve been disrespected and it makes me angry that there’s institutional hypocrisy at a level that would warrant these protests. I know that Dean King was loved and admired for his work – my student has shared why so many other students are outraged at his treatment. And I believe the professors who have also taken up the torch on your behalf. I don’t think anyone is without justification here. On the other hand, the school has impressed me on many more occasions than not. Conn handled the pandemic incredibly well, I thought, and when my student has needed services of any kind, there has been no shortage of help and I have to add, kindness. There have been many wonderful moments my student has experienced at Conn and I don’t think my sacrifice has been a waste, even with the problems that have come to light. I believe your protest will not be in vain. I’m still a proud Camel Mom and I agree with you that your concerns should be addressed with real action. No student at Conn should feel abused or oppressed (even if the words might be better chosen, I agree), and I believe the SVE is doing a good thing overall, even if I wish you had better messaging. I’m glad you have the support of many professors and staff and I’m glad this has been a non-violent and meaningful protest. I’m also glad my student’s classes have started again. I am working very late hours to make my student’s experience at Conn possible, and I imagine I am not alone. So the return of classes is a blessing. Things appear to be returning to normal academically, at least somewhat. And I hope this experience brings meaningful change, I really do. One word of caution. You are asking for National press coverage. This is the only wish I hope is not achieved. Right now, you are enjoying the luxury of not being in a national spotlight, but there is a lot of cruel criticism that could befall the SVE and college that you may not wish for – and I’m pretty sure other parents would not wish this upon their students either. You may get more than you bargained for and it could really destroy your efforts, I believe. My student is among you and supports you, and I support my student at Conn. Parents are working very hard too and I’m pretty certain want the best for every student at the college.
On Tuesday February 28, a week after his resignation and a full 24 hours before the show was cancelled, Dean King was announced by UMASS Amherst as the incoming Assistant Dean for Diversity at the School for Public Health.
https://www.umass.edu/news/article/king-difulvio-appointed-sphhs-leadership-roles
Dean Jobs require a national search that can last several months.
Did he resign for other reasons than he stated? Or was this a last minute “seize-the-moment” gain for UMASS? Did he have any knowledge of an available position ready for him when he presented his resignation as a “principled sacrifice”?
Did the cast that spent months preparing the show know of his new job when making the decision to cancel? Would the students have made a different choice if they knew?
Would the fundraiser performance for DIEI not have been a better choice?
One thing is clear: Dean King’s deafening silence after resignation now finally makes sense.
Honette, we will never know. U Mass is not at Liberty to disclose and neither is Conn. His appointment was already announced the day his explosive letter was published. It then came down for a few days and was back up. And you are correct, it would have been a long national search. Also, the faculty demanding the next position be tenured (deans rarely are unless moved into office as a tenured professor) suggests to me that King was seeking promotion and tenure, not a new job over a fund raiser not even in his scope of work. His letter and CV also show an unstable work trajectory. I hope he doesn’t leave U Mass students in crisis and then abandon them on his way out of there. That’s exactly what he did here.
Most of the Conn community didn’t know Umass announced his job the first week of February. Honestly, he has no integrity… I understand students worked with him or met him and he was liked, but he created a diversion leaving his position. He burned Conn to the ground on the way out and was NOT truthful. This is tragic for the entire community. It’s clear he had accepted a position before he resigned and set up Bergeron for the fall. Seriously, I think this information needs to be made public. There are alumni, parents and students going down a rabbit hole of misinformation.
So the 93% of the faculty who voted no-confidence did so on a completely baseless basis?
Thank you Dusty Boomer,
Yep, faculty is probably brainwashed like all the protesting students … ^^
88% don´t have confidence in President Bergeron anymore.
Wow.
No for real. Students started protesting, but very soon their concerns were dismissed by some readers here.
Looks like faculty does not like this toxic atmosphere more than students or staff.
I wonder, if this vote of no confidence will change anything.
Thank you faculty for using your voice to support SVE.
Dean King = scumbag