Bristol's RWU students' intelligent requests

Posted 11/30/15

Students at the Roger Williams University Intercultural Center organized a BlackOut Monday, Nov. 16, at 12:20 p.m.  Those who attended wore black to show solidarity with the students at Mizzou (University of Missouri). About 100 people attended, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Bristol's RWU students' intelligent requests

Posted

Students at the Roger Williams University Intercultural Center organized a BlackOut Monday, Nov. 16, at 12:20 p.m.  Those who attended wore black to show solidarity with the students at Mizzou (University of Missouri). About 100 people attended, posed for a group photo, and then listened as student organizers articulated their concerns and asked the university to address specific issues.

No one yelled. The speakers were crisp and direct. Instead of clapping in agreement, the audience gently clicked their fingers in approval so as to not interrupt the speakers. No one pushed people out of the way. Instead, people were welcomed to stand together and listen and be heard. Everyone was invited to attend, but those who walked by were not bothered. Above their heads on a sign pole was a small university flag that read "Engage." Its location was probably a coincidence, but it fits. This was engagement among people who care about their world.

It is hard to imagine anyone finding fault with students who invite faculty and the public into their discussion on important issues. But it exists. There were plenty of nasty, anonymous comments online before the event even started. (It's easy to lob bombs from the safety of your laptop. It takes courage to stand up in front of your school and ask for change.)

One has to wonder why people become so angry when other people try to improve the world. These students weren't asking for money, they didn't demand that anyone be fired, and they didn't embarrass themselves by using a "safe space" to forcibly push out a photographer exercising his right to be there. Among their requests they asked the RWU brass to advocate for campus solidarity on diversity matters. They asked the university to create a CORE Human Behavior course incorporating a sustained dialogue on diversity. They asked for comprehensive diversity awareness and inclusion training for all faculty, staff, and administrative position.

These are not radical ideas. No matter your position on the recent college protests in the country, the RWU BlackOut can't be seen as political correctness gone wrong or a selfish act by misguided young people. This was smart, direct, and constructive – qualities to be cherished on a college campus.

To his credit, President Donald J. Farish attended the event and spoke to the crowd. He condemned the anonymous online comments that have made some on campus fearful of their environment and acknowledged the work needed to be done in the quest for racial equality and social justice. Time will tell if he can grant the students' requests, but it's clear that they have – and deserve – his attention.

BlackOut, Bristol, Mizzou, Roger Williams University

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.