SMU students call for campus to address racial issues at ‘blackout’ rally
About 150 students at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ gathered Monday to show their support for black students at the University of Missouri — and to say thÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ has racial problems of its own.
By HOLLY K. HACKER
Staff Writer
From WFAA ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ |
About 150 students at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ gathered Monday to show their support for black students at the University of Missouri — and to say thÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ has racial problems of its own.
“Every single year we’ve had insensitive comments or insensitive actions of students who don’t seem to value the existence of other students on this campus,” said D’Marquis Allen, a senior and president ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Association of Black Students.
Allen and several other students said they gave SMU President R. Gerald Turner a list of demands Monday, including the recruitment of more black students, professors, administrators and trustees. They also asked thÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ “hold students and student organizations accountable for racially insensitive conduct.”
Students created the list after several meetings with black undergraduates, graduate students, athletes and alumni, Allen said.
Campus leaders also need to work to keep black and other minority students ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ because many drop out, said Jose Manuel Santoyo, a student senator.
“SMU needs to work on that and figure out ways to be more inclusive,” he said.
In a statement Monday night, Turner said he had received the list of demands and looked “forward to reviewing it carefully and continuing discussions with student leaders regarding the requests and perspectives it contains. We are all seeking the same goal — to make SMU as supportive as possible for all students.”
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