Posted on 11/13/2015 10:26:44 AM PST by randita
Protesters want the school president to denounce the actions of students who displayed "All Lives Matter" and "Free Speech" posters.
They also demand he warn the student body that in the future "racially insensitive" speech would merit disciplinary actions.
Students at Amherst College are demanding that the school's president accede to a list of demands that would effectively eliminate free speech on campus.
The demands, which were presented in person Thursday evening to college President Biddy Martin, are outlined in a letter published by Amherst Soul, which also notes that the students expect action to be initiated within "24-48 hours" and completed by Wednesday, November 18 (roughly six days after they were first issued). If those deadlines are not met, they warn, "we will organize and respond in a radical manner, through civil disobedience."
The ultimatum grew out of a sit-in held earlier in the day as part of the "Stand with Mizzou" movement, during which members of a variety of student organizations on campus collaborated to identify the actions they believe must be taken in response to the "legacy of oppression" at Amherst, notably through the creation of "safe spaces" and the criminalization of "offensive" sentiments.
"We have begun this movement, Amherst Uprising, in an effort to change the status quo for a more just and inclusive environment within our campus," the letter states. "We demand that Amherst become a leader in the fight to promote a better social climate towards individuals who have been systematically oppressed."
First, the students demand that both President Martin and Board of Trustees Chairman Cullen Murphy issue statements apologizing to those impacted by "injustices including but not limited to our institutional legacy of white supremacy, colonialism, anti-black racism, anti-Latinx [sic] racism, anti-Native American racism, anti-Native/indigenous racism, anti-Asian racism, anti-Middle Eastern racism, heterosexism, cis-sexism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, ableism, mental health stigma, and classism."
Anticipating a negative reaction to their letter, the students also insist that the campus police department "must issue a statement of protection and defense from any form of violence, threats, or retaliation of any kind resulting from this movement."
More specifically, they want President Martin to denounce the actions of students who displayed "All Lives Matter" and "Free Speech" posters, and to warn the student body that in the future, "racially insensitive" speech would merit disciplinary action.
Not content merely to purge the school of opinions with which they disagree, the students also demand that they be given time off from class and that the school’s mascot be expunged.
"Dean Epstein must ask faculty to excuse all students from all 5 College classes, work shifts, and assignments from November 12th, 2015 to November 13th, 2015 given their organization of and attendance at the Sit-In," reads the eighth item on the list. A few bullet points further down, they add, "Dean Epstein must encourage faculty to provide a space for students to discuss this week's events during class time."
Regarding the school's mascot, the students want Martin to release a statement by Friday at 5:00 p.m. "that condemns the inherently racist nature of the unofficial mascot, the Lord Jeff," and to follow up by encouraging the removal of all related imagery from campus.
Lord Jeff is a reference to Amherst's namesake, British Field Marshal Jeffery Amherst, who some historians believe encouraged the distribution of smallpox-infected blankets to Native Americans with whom the British were fighting during the French and Indian War.
After the list of demands concludes, the students note that they will require further, as-yet unspecified, action from the administration, as well.
"Please acknowledge that all of these statements of apology are not the end all - that they are only a part of short-term healing and by no means achieve all of the goals we will set forth," the letter states. "We are in the process of finalizing long-term goals which we hope to collaborate on regularly with all members of the community."
Campus Reform is currently awaiting comment from Amherst on President Martin's response to the students' demands, and will update this story once the statement has been provided.
BTW - what is "ableism"?
This is the tip of the spear. I think there is some bad stuff coming.
I wouldn’t argue with that, and that’s why it’s so important to crack down on these factions.
This cannot be allowed to appear like it’s working or guess what, it will spread and spread outside the campuses to other enterprises.
This is war, and we better start acting like it.
They are unable to control the monsters they created.
Discrimination against people with disabilities. Like making fun of stupid libs and leftists you are guilty of ableism.
Amherst students demand crackdown against free speech-
Amherst was a BRITISH general 1759, whose general ~7 years later said:
“The Sons of Liberty assembled at night in the fields...
To such a pass are matters come too, that at Philadelphia
in a Stationers Shop was found wrote in a blank Book
G____ by the C__se of G_d, us_per of G___t B__t__n,
and Dest_r_y of the Faith. Great Enquiries were made,
but unfortunely to no purpose.”
p.347”Montresor`s Journals” 1766. 19 Jan. [Scull] b montresor
March 1766 “This night the Sons of Liberty assembled and insolently sent
Mr. Allecocke [son of a mulatto woman] and Seares,two of their Representatives
on board the Garland Ship of War to demand the Lieut of His majesty`s Ship
for having said that the Printer of the Thursday`s Gazette, was he in England,
would be hanged for the licentuoisness of his Paper.” p.353
Amherst students would have us hanged for free speech and free press just as the British actually did to people whose words they didn`t like to hear or read.
Curses be upon them of Amherst scum!!!
using free Speech to crack down on Free Speech and when free Speech is gone how do the demand other crack downs or firings
“demands, ultimatum, the students expect, they will require”
They want free speech limited. I had to look again to make sure this wasn’t John Semmons.
OTOH, if the journalists’ oxen are getting gored, maybe they should get a taste of what it’s like to be a 2nd amendment supporter.
Q: What do you get when you reward bad behavior?
A: Obama’s agenda being implemented.
The dean and president of the school ought to declare the campus a free speech zon and tell the whiny brats to get over it.
I recommend "Nuts!" as an appropriate response.
or remove free Speech and tell them to get stuffed
I smell fundamental transformation in the wind.
Those who attempt to block citizens from exercising of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the US need to be treated as traitors and handled with extreme prejudice.
Dare I hope that eventually these liberal morons will overplay their hand?
Anyone hear if this foolishness is going on at Kent State?
;)
The right to protest is absolute.
But this isn’t about protect anymore. It’s about controlling the agenda, setting the tone of the conversation, etc.
Worse yet, these students are not asking for anything. They are demanding it.
I know that if I were the president of Amherst, I would be saying “I’m willing to listen to a delegation of students, that is, if those students have something concrete and substantial to say. Failing that, any acts of civil disobedience that constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct will result in immediate suspension and/or expulsion from this institution.”
There’s your future America.
Have a nice day. :)
I think our alma mater is safe (KU) since we have a black female chancellor. Also a tiny bit of common sense. We’ll see.
“racially insensitive” speech would merit disciplinary actions...? What p**sy f*rts!
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