As part of student protests so bent on creating “safe spaces,” students have taken to self-segregating themselves. The latest example comes out of Claremont McKenna College. As Fox News reported Sunday, the student government-funded official paper of the college will be setting aside column spaces for minorities only.
A Nov. 13 post from the editorial board of the Student Life in part read:
Some may accuse progressive students of being unprepared to handle the “real world,” but we are not asking to be coddled, and we are not asking to be protected from those big, scary words and ideas. In fact, bring them on. We identify injustices and challenge current systems of thought by marching, and picketing, and shouting, and writing, and dismantling. Racism is teaching a class on the civil war that debates the pros and cons of slavery—the ownership of Black bodies. Be mindful of it.
It deeply disturbs us that people who we sit with for hours in classes, interact with at social gatherings, play sports with on teams, and exchange banter with in our dining halls could be the ones dehumanizing people of color on Yik Yak, faceless and afraid, cowering behind violently oppressive language, a keyboard and their own refusal to educate themselves. So hold these institutions, and those who are complicit, accountable. They can only dance around demands for so long—especially now that the national media has focused in on Claremont McKenna College. And while the cameras will stop rolling, the movement must continue.
So for those who don’t feel all the messages of solidarity are enough, or who feel the mainstream media is misguided in representing people of color, or who feel compelled to speak and be heard, we would like to repurpose its influence by providing a space in next week’s issue for students of color to voice their experiences. We will proofread, but we will not edit your voice or content…
The move comes after other forms of segregation for the sake of a “safe space” on campus. The Claremont Independent wrote last week about how the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) has set aside a space in their office for minority students.
Events from campus groups also refused to allow non-minorities. A “Hurting and Healing” event, for instance, cautioned “while you may want to invite a white friend or ally, to make this a safe and comfortable space for other POC, we ask that you do not.”
The Motley Coffeehouse, which has been in the news before for hosting an event known as “Project Vulva” also held an exclusive event on Nov. 11 for minorities and those they decided to bring with them.
The Claremont Independent included a screenshot in their piece.
The Washington Post also published a piece about the protests, at Claremont McKenna, which resulted in the resignation of dean Mary Spellman. The piece, “College is the last place that should be a ‘safe space’: A voice of protest against student protests,” was written by students Hannah Oh, the editor-in-chief of Claremont Independent, Steven Glick who is the publisher and who also spoke with Fox News, and Taylor Schmitt, the managing editor.
