Ithaca College Protest: Students Host Walkout Following Mizzou Debacle

Students at Ithaca College in NY walked out of classes and called on the school’s president resign over allegations of racism.

The protest, which began around 1:30 p.m., was in response to what organizers said were a series of incidents that demonstrated cultural insensitivity and exclusion of certain groups.

Students in the group People of Color at Ithaca College held their own walkout Wednesday according to the campus newspaper, The Ithacan.

One incident brought up by student activists occurred at the school’s Blue Sky Reimagining event on October 8. At that event, two alumni referred to an African American panelist as a “savage”, USA Today reported.

“The college can not prevent the use of hurtful language on campus”, the statement said.

As for the next steps for addressing racism on the Smith campus, Fowlkes-Witten said, “I think a lot of fighting back involves the little ever day fights: speaking up for – as opposed to speaking for or speaking against – people of color in classrooms, hiring more faculty of color, and simply listening to students of color on campus who are trying to live and be students just like their white peers and allies”.

Ithaca College students are calling for Tom Rochon’s resignation. “I am certain that Ithaca College will emerge from this chapter stronger and more resolute in its direction forward, and the board and I are actively partnering with Tom Rochon and other campus leaders to make sure that happens”.

– Students from Yale University and Ithaca College say they’ve been inspired to speak out.

STRINGER/REUTERS Ithaca College students write messages of protest on the college free-speech board in Ithaca, New York. The Ithaca College Faculty Council also voted Tuesday to hold a referendum of no confidence. “Even so, we reaffirm our commitment to making our campus an inclusive and respectful community”.

“We can’t promise that the college will never host a speaker who could say something racist, homophobic, misogynistic or otherwise disrespectful”, he added.

“We firmly believe that existing plans to address these challenges must be expedited and new measures undertaken”, the Ithaca college administration continued. Roger “Doc” Richardson, associate provost for diversity, inclusion, and engagement will serve in this role on an interim basis.

“I think he’s the one breaking the code of conduct”, IC Student Government Association member Dominick Recckio said.

Rochon responded minutes after the protest, not by stepping down, but by announcing that he has created a new Chief Diversity Officer position at the college.

“Every single person that came out today came to make a difference and it is so appreciated by the voices of those who have not yet been heard today”.