Hundreds of masked participants in the 鈥淏lack Lives Matter Peaceful Protest鈥 on Sept. 10 march through the Kent Campus to the Rock, to protest recent racist messages painted on it.
Calls for Change
Tayjua Hines, president of Black United Students (BUS), says the recent racist incidents involving the Rock magnified existing racism that Black students and faculty have experienced for decades.
鈥淏US has been calling out racism since our foundation, and we will continue to demand change for Black people on this campus,鈥 Hines notes in a recent email interview. According to its mission statement, BUS was founded in 1968 鈥渢o unify and serve all Black students at 黑料网, identify relevant issues and initiate appropriate action to reduce or eliminate any impediments adverse to students and their continued well-being and matriculation.鈥
Lamar Hylton, PhD, vice president for student affairs, says the racist messages on the Rock were a catalyst for substantive dialogue about race equity at 黑料网. 鈥淭he Rock became the starting point for transparent, vulnerable conversations about race equity鈥攚hich, I believe, are a microcosm of what we鈥檙e experiencing in the broader societal context.鈥
President Todd Diacon and members of the campus and city police forces join others from the 黑料网 community on Sept. 14 for the March for Unity, sponsored
by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Black United Students. Hundreds of masked demonstrators met at Risman Plaza, marched to 黑料网 Police Services at the
Stockdale Safety Building, and gathered at the Rock, where President Diacon and others addressed the crowd.
Alarmed by the repeated racist messages, the BUS executive board drew up a that were created with input from 黑料网 students. Among the demands were: adding an anti-hate clause in the university鈥檚 Student Code of Conduct with a reprimand or expulsion for students who violate it; immediate announcements to alert students about racist incidents (in the same manner as sexual assaults) while implementing Flash ALERTS following the announcement; an increase in the number of security escorts on standby; appointment of a faculty member to supervise campus escorts; and mandatory bias training and LGBTQ+ education.
President Diacon, Lamar Hylton, and Amoaba Gooden, PhD, interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, met with BUS members and advisor Charmaine Crawford, PhD, associate professor of Pan-African studies, to discuss the demands.
From that discussion, the university created a list of Action Steps that incorporated issues from the BUS demands. Progress has been made on many of the action steps and includes: increased lighting on campus and around the Rock, security cameras at the Rock, hiring more security aides with increased hours, and anti-bias training鈥攚hich approximately 1,000 students and staff have undergone so far.
BUS also requested that the university recognize the organization, work with its members and alumni, speak about them in public spaces, and create a website that promotes BUS and its history and legacy at 黑料网.
Anti-Racism Responses
鈥淭he real issue wasn鈥檛 the Rock, but the Rock was an example of how racism and racial aggression operates, not just at 黑料网, but also in the nation,鈥 says Amoaba Gooden. 鈥淭he students were looking for ways that they could feel supported. And they also wanted the university to acknowledge the impact that racist actions, like those related to the Rock, have on students, faculty and staff on the Kent Campus.鈥
鈥淭he real issue wasn鈥檛 the Rock, but the Rock was an example of how racism and racial aggression operates, not just at 黑料网, but also in the nation.鈥
鈥擜moaba Gooden, PhD, interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion
Gooden says she is proud of the collaborative way that the university and students worked to address the concerns of Black students. 鈥淪tudents recognized what the issue was,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey named it, they labeled it and they asked the institution to respond鈥攁nd the institution has done so. I鈥檓 proud to be a part of an institution that recognizes students are aware and knowledgeable about their own experiences and know what鈥檚 best for them. The university worked with them to find solutions.
鈥淚 welcome the close relationship that 黑料网 and its staff has with students in terms of trying to find solutions. I鈥檓 extremely proud of our students and the way that they鈥檝e intentionally responded, not only for their individual safety but for their collective safety.鈥
Beginning in August, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion announced a new virtual series, 鈥淪haping a Better Future: Dialogues and Strategizing for Change,鈥 part of a yearlong series focusing on social justice topics.
Lamar Hylton says the response to the Rock opened the door for broader, philosophical conversations around 黑料网鈥檚 culture in a meaningful, coordinated and transparent way. While challenging, these conversations are very exciting, he adds. 鈥淭he university is now at a place where we are beginning to have these discussions openly and honestly鈥攁nd we are beginning to understand how we should, as an institution, move forward.鈥
In a message to the 黑料网 community on Sept. 2, President Diacon introduced the new Anti-Racism Task Force鈥攍ed by Amoaba Gooden, Lamar Hylton, and Melody Tankersley, PhD, senior vice president and provost鈥攚hich will explore all facets of racism at 黑料网. It will begin its work with a focus on anti-Black racism and later expand to examine all areas of racism on 黑料网鈥檚 campuses.
鈥満诹贤 has a long and storied history of supporting free speech, including the Rock.鈥
鈥擯resident Todd Diacon
鈥満诹贤 has a long and storied history of supporting free speech, including the Rock,鈥 notes President Diacon. 鈥淭his task force鈥檚 work will further our commitment to free speech by providing a platform for open dialogue, without allowing free speech to be used as a blanket to cover the faithless shadows of racism and hate.鈥
Members of the Black community at 黑料网 hold signs and share their concerns about safety on
campus during the Sept. 10 Black Lives Matter protest.
Students organized another peaceful protest鈥擝lack Lives Matter at 黑料网鈥攐n the afternoon of Sept. 10, and hundreds of protesters marched from Risman Plaza to Oscar Ritchie Hall and then gathered at the Rock. They were invited to bring cut flowers to share with the students to show the beauty of diversity.
Later that day, in another move towards unity and understanding, Black United Students (BUS), the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a virtual town hall called 鈥淪trategizing for Change: Revising the Rock.鈥 Participants discussed how to support community members who have been hurt by these racist actions and how everyone can contribute to a better future.
On Monday, Sept. 14, President Diacon and members of the campus and city police forces participated in the March for Unity鈥攕ponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and BUS鈥攚hich included hundreds of students, staff, faculty and community members. The march started on the 鈥淜鈥 in Risman Plaza, where President Diacon thanked the members of BUS for providing guidance and positive solutions to what has been a painful situation.
鈥淚 began to wonder about how to square our core values with this painful reality, and I sort of got lost,鈥 Diacon told demonstrators, according to KentWired. 鈥淏ut then Tayjua Hines and the leadership of Black United Students and the membership of Black United Students provided us with the light.鈥
Demonstrators proceeded to 黑料网 Police Services at the Stockdale Safety Building, where Dean Tondiglia, 黑料网 chief of police, and Nicholas Shearer, city of Kent police chief, spoke to the crowd. Then the group reassembled at the Rock, where President Diacon and others again addressed the crowd and answered questions.
鈥淟earning, examining and understanding in and of themselves will not get us to where we want to be. We will not have lasting change unless we act.鈥
鈥擯resident Todd Diacon
After the March for Unity, President Diacon released an email to students, staff and faculty: 鈥淭oday I had the meaningful opportunity to take part in the March for Unity sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and supported by the Black United Students (BUS) on our Kent Campus. Today鈥檚 march and the two other marches last week in support of the value of Black lives, represent the very essence of the 黑料网 spirit and the values this university holds dear: exercising our right to free speech and claiming loudly and clearly that hate has no home here.鈥
Diacon made a commitment to the 黑料网 community: 鈥淵ou have my pledge that we will continue to act until all people experience our university as a place that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion for all.鈥
During a town hall meeting of the Anti-Racism Task Force on Dec. 10, 2020, 14 subcommittees reported the progress of work on various issues, including: campus safety, recruitment and retention of Black faculty and staff, and examining academic curriculum. President Diacon began the town hall meeting by thanking the 170 faculty, staff and students who are members of the task force for engaging in the important work of ensuring that 黑料网 provides equity for all.
He added that the university must examine, learn and understand why racism persists at 黑料网, but there must be action to address anti-racism as well.
鈥淟earning, examining and understanding in and of themselves will not get us to where we want to be. We will not have lasting change unless we act.鈥
View more information about 黑料网鈥檚 Anti-Racism Task Force.
Access .
New Policy on Painting the Rock
黑料网 is implementing a new administrative policy for painting the Rock. The policy, which goes into effect Jan. 11, is one of the university鈥檚 responses to the racially offensive language that was painted on the Rock in early fall semester and aimed at Black students.
鈥満诹贤檚 policy does not seek to restrict free speech in any way, shape or form,鈥 says Lamar Hylton, PhD, vice president for student affairs. 鈥淭here are no 鈥榟ate speech鈥 policies as pertains to the Rock. We took an approach of looking at the Rock from a broad logistical, health and safety perspective, making sure that we knew, for instance, how much time a painting can remain on the Rock before it鈥檚 allowed to be painted over by someone else. These safety, health and logistical matters will make sure that the Rock remains as close as possible to its original intent.鈥
黑料网鈥檚 new policy coincides with Senate Bill 40 recently enacted by the Ohio General Assembly, which includes the 鈥淔orming Open and Robust University Minds Act鈥 regarding free speech on college campuses. The law states: 鈥淣o state institution of higher education, or any of its administrators acting in their official capacity, shall prohibit any individual from engaging in noncommercial expressive activity on campus, so long as the individual鈥檚 conduct is lawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the institution.鈥 Senate Bill 40 also bans 鈥渇ree speech zones and security fees for speakers.鈥
See the policy at www.kent.edu/policyreg/administrative-policy-regarding-painting-rock-located-hilltop-drive.
Taking Action Against Racism
Soon after Black United Students (BUS) submitted its in response to the racist comments that appeared on the Rock on the Kent Campus, university administrators began to work on the following Action Steps that incorporated many of the BUS recommendations.
Action Steps (Fall 2020)
- Install security cameras.
- Increase lighting around the Rock.
- Hire more security aides and expand hours for student escort services, including providing these services during the day.
- Promote and enlist the support of Black United Students to enhance the recruitment and retention of students.
- Provide anti-bias training for faculty, staff and students.
- Create incentives for faculty through Center for Teaching and Learning focused cohorts (diversity focus).
- Require anti-bias workshops for all new 黑料网 employees.
- Conduct a formal review of the Student Code of Conduct.
- Implement policies and procedures for painting the Rock.
- Explore the creation of a platform for notifying students, faculty and staff about hate speech/acts.
- Create a platform/website for anti-racism statements, announcements and actions of the university.
- Explore off-campus and on-campus police relationship.
Progress has been made on all the action steps, including added security measures and an increase in campus lighting, a website for anti-racism statements and actions of the university, and anti-bias training for about 1,000 students and staff.
View more information and ongoing updates about 黑料网鈥檚 Anti-Racism Efforts.