Quinnipiac responds to racist posts on social media

Kaye Paddyfote, News Director|June 9, 2020

Two offensive images have circulated around social media this past week regarding a pair of incoming first-year students.

One picture consisted of a student depicting blackface on Snapchat. The second was a Facebook post where the coronavirus was referred to as the “Chinese virus.” These posts were brought to the attention of Quinnipiac University administration. 

In an email sent to the Quinnipiac community, President Olian responded to the actions of these two incoming students and their post’s.

Current students, alumni of Quinnipiac University and many others are calling for the removal of these soon-to-be Bobcats from the university and its programs.

 

Although the university cannot disclose what actions have or will be done to these two incoming students, this kind of behavior does not reflect inclusive excellence.

A petition was created by Quinnipiac alumna Sokaina Asar, who is demanding change and support of the black community at QU. In the petition, Asar wrote:

“Quinnipiac University students and alumni have come together to request that Quinnipiac University show support for their claim for ‘Diversity and Inclusion,’” especially now for the Black Lives Matter movement. Please sign this petition if you believe in this cause to demand for change at Quinnipiac University to improve education for future generations. You do not have to be a current student to sign.”

The petition has more than 2,000 signatures and the goal is to reach 2,500.

Asar wrote out a nine-step plan on how she thinks the university should take action in light of the recent protests and racial injustice that has been going on throughout the United States.

  1. Release a new statement to the public explicitly stating support for the Black community. Include an apology. Standing in solidarity is not enough.
  2. Diversify your student population and amplify the voices of students of color on campus. Allow a platform in leadership positions for students of color.
  3. Increase resources for students of color. Increase financial, academic, community support for the Black Student Union and other organizations for students of color. Have effective mentorship for students of color.
  4. Increase diversity in faculty and staff. Promote recruitment of diverse faculty and staff.
  5. Make a generous public donation to black organizations, bail funds, and support local businesses that are Black owned in an effort to support Black Lives Matter. Quinnipiac received an endowment of $556 million in 2019. It is possible for a donation from Quinnipiac that positively impacts the surrounding, local, and student communities in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
  6. Decolonize the curriculum. Create classes in the curriculum that focus on abolishing racism, educating students on systemic/institutionalized racism. Alter the viewpoint in courses that are traditionally told from a white perspective towards perspective that amplifies the Black voice.
  7. Respond with a concrete plan of action. List out steps the university will take to support its students of color and the Black Lives Matter Movement.
  8. Provide educational resources on privilege, racism, white fragility, systemic racism, books written by black authors. Send out information and resources that students, leaders, community leaders, alumni can all educate themselves on.
  9. Create and follow through on sanctions for reported incidents of racism. Quickly take action when racism is experienced by students of color. Listen to their experiences and change the policies to support victims of racism.

Since the petition has been created, many Quinnipiac students have been sharing it on social media in hopes of a better future for Black students at Quinnipiac. Along with that, the goal of having more conversations with people of all races is so that everyone is aware of racial injustices in the United States that people of color face. Hopefully these conversations will help work towards a solution.