What the heck is racist about Lord Jeff?
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.
What the heck is racist about Lord Jeff?
If the schools had any sense, they would respond by demanding the students sign a pledge committing to respect free speech, or be expelled. Then we’d see how many of these protesters would put their money (or their parent’s money) where their mouth is.
Once upon a time, Amherst was a pretty good little school.
Seems to have fallen in the world, however.
Keep in mind that this is taking place in Amherst, MA, where the UN flag flies on the town common (and has for decades). Amherst, and nearby Northampton, make San Fransicko look almost sane. If Socialism in practice really ever takes root in the U.S.A., I’d put real money on it starting in one of these towns. I’m actually surprised that this demonstration and the corresponding one at UMass were so small and restrained.
Kent State learned their lesson. They don’t need to be shot twice to get the message.
I have it on good authority from a person who studies such things that UMass Amherst is basically the east coast commie pod people farm, and has been ground zero for many years as a commie hatchery.
As this is a PRIVATE college, I have no problem with this, but they should not receive ANY federal funding whatsoever.
Also any other PRIVATE college should be able to make whatever regulations they want that violate student’s rights under the U. S. Constitution. That means if they want to ban, say a racial minority or a homosexual or whatever they should be allowed to do so because other private school would be allowed to violate civil rights. This should be tested by some PRIVATE college if for no other reason than to make a point.
Precedent is precedent.
This is satire, right?
The left has lost control of its fringe. This happened in the late 60’s and early 70’s. A big backlash ensued. The Republican party doesn’t deserve to be this lucky.
One can only hope that HRC and other Dems jump in and join Black Lives Matter and demand “safe places”, and the like.
I think that’s when you say stuff like “cripple”, “gimpy” and “midget” :)
The proper response by the school president should be:
"Thank you for your attention to this matter. However, I cannot respond directly to your protest except to say this...please go out and get 51% of the community to agree with you. Have them appear here or get their verified signatures and then come back and see me. Until then, yours is a minority position. Feel free to sit down and shut up."
It's called Fascism.
A solid reason to approve H1B visas...........
Shooting commies seems like it will be so satisfying.
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.”
They only left out cacauophobia, blancophobia, anti-whiteism,
Christophobia, Buddhaphobia, and Rank Hybotery.
Honestly, these goobs have swallowed the party line
and the hook too.
You just have to wonder how many off campus “leaders”
were running the Delphi Technique on these “intellectual”
RUBES.
Yea, verily yea.
bkmk
They’re rioting in Missouri. They’re fasting at Yale.
The hurricanes of Florida will end up in jail.
Academia is festering with unhappy souls.
The TAs hate the undergrads. The frats hate the proles.
LEOs hate Ferguson and Baltimore, too. And I don’t
really give a damn if that triggers you.
But we can be tranquil and thankful assured
that university presidents will fall on their swords.
And we know for certain that some lovely day
someone will set the spark off and we’ll have our say.
They’re rioting in Missouri, soon Vanderbilt, too.
The student debt they’re racking up goes straight down the loo.
I’m all for buckshot, and tear gas just like at Berkeley in 69’. And don’t forget the billy clubs.
“BTW - what is “ableism”?”
Ableism is the offense of preferentially hiring a person who is physically able to do the job over someone who can’t.
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