The movement began with a direct action staged during a meeting of the Brown University Community Council. Students’ use of the #BrownTogether hashtag demonstrated the hostile environment experienced by students of color at Brown. These tweets were documented by Bluestockings Magazine, a student-led feminist magazine on campus. The tweets also offered critiques of Brown’s relationship with the community (a relationship often described within the context of Brown’s public relations apparatus) and the practice of branding racial inequities as a “learning experience.”
Brown’s leadership dedicated $100 million (3.3% of the $3bn effort) to “improving race relations” on campus. However, this plan was roundly criticized by students for not addressing specific issues. This critique was drafted by a Coalition of Concerned Graduate Students of Color. The critique noted that salaries and stipends paid by Brown are inadequate compared to public universities such as the University of California – Riverside.
Though $100M has allegedly been earmarked, Brown has not released a timetable or specific breakdown on how funds will be distributed.
The program’s nebulous statements about inclusion stand in stark relief with Paxson’s commitment to arming Brown DPS (law enforcement) officers. This additional weaponry raises immediate concern after Brown’s police department was forced to apologize after a Latinx conference attendee was assaulted by a police officer. College law enforcement officers claim to be concerned with student safety on campus. However, the killing of Samuel DuBose by a campus police officer shows that the college campuses are no safer than the rest of the US for students of color. Ray Tensing, the white officer who killed DuBose, was indicted for murder – a testament to the power of #BlackLivesMatter movements in demanding justice.
Specific demands, including exact wording on hiring and applications policies, were drafted and presented by students of color during an occupation of Brown’s administration buildings – where the students put in a day of work as diversity consultants for the University.
]]>Paxon’s words of thanks, says Brown student and activist Stoni Tomson, “is an attempt to co-opt our movement and our struggle… this is the tactic of some of the most insidious and abusive elements on this earth.”
Tomson was speaking yesterday at a rally to demand that Brown University engage fairly in talks with the Brown Library Union.
Despite Paxon’s appearance of support, so far the University has failed to agree to a contract with library workers. It seems as though Paxon is fond of the counter-cultural reputation this kind of student/worker activism garners Brown, but actually following through on the ideals the protesters represent are another thing altogether.
As Brown graduate and library worker Mark Baumer says, “all [the university] is offering us is takeaways.” Workers are expected to accept cuts to their contracts every time they are up for discussion. “They keep chipping away a little bit with every contract, and eventually that will be a lot.”
As part of the protest demonstrators delivered a petition to President Paxon’s office, as well as several Thanksgiving themed holiday cards, with sentiments such as “Don’t Gobble Union Jobs” and “Don’t Squash Benefits.”
According to the protesters, “For workers, understaffing and lack of training/advancement opportunities remain key issues. While the University and workers remain in a deadlock, key administrators including the head of the library and members of the Organizational Planning Group are not even present at the bargaining table.”
There were many speakers at the event, but attendance was lower than normal because of the Thanksgiving break.
]]>Here’s the press release from Brown Divest Coal, a group that is calling on new President Christina Paxson to stop investing Brown’s money in the “Filthy Fifteen,” businesses Brown invests in that are bad for the planet:
Three Brown professors and a coal activist from West Virginia will highlight the environmental, social, and political impacts of the Coal industry at a teach in on Thursday organized by the Brown Divest Coal Campaign. The Brown Divest Coal Campaign is a new campus effort with the support of over 1400 students calling on president Christina Paxson to divest the University’s endowment holdings from the ‘Filthy Fifteen’ – the ten dirtiest US utilities and the five least responsible coal mining companies.
WHAT: In order to educate students and the community about the new campaign, three professors will discuss different aspects of the coal industry, including professor Dawn King, who will speak about coal’s global reach and professor Tim Herbert speaking about coal and its links to climate change. Dustin Steele, an anti-mountaintop removal activist from West Virginia, will speak about the impact of the coal industry on his community.
WHO: Professors Dawn King, Tim Herbert, and Stephanie Malin; coal activist Dustin Steele.
WHEN: Thursday, October 25th at 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM.
WHERE: List Art Room 120 (Access Via 64 College St) Google Map
VISUALS: Speakers will appear on stage with presentations. At the end of the presentations, campaign members will gather on stage with a banner to answer questions about the campaign and engage with the audience.
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