Five Students arrested at Clemson University for failure to evacuate Sikes Hall After it closed for the evening. The students refusal to leave came as no surprise as they are holding a sit-in; protesting the culture of the campus. Check out some footage as well as there demands after the jump.
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Jeremy Anderson, Darien Smith, Rae-Nessha White, Adrian Carson, and Me’khayla Oneal Williams were all arrested by Clemson University Police officers late Friday afternoon. These students were participating in a sit in protest of the Clemson University Organization. Students have recently become frustrated in the culture at Clemson University.
Current list of student grievances:
“We feel as though President Clements’ public statement re: The Crip’mas Party is woefully inadequate and insincere. Additionally, we feel Clemson students, particularly those members of underrepresented communities were and are targets of insensitive, ignorant, alienating and (sometimes) criminal/predatory comments on social media (i.e., Yik Yak).
We feel that students from underrepresented groups have no place to meet and feel safe among other students who represent those groups (and allies).
We feel student government does not represent the student body as a whole financially. Due to a lack of representation from students of a variety of backgrounds within predominant student leadership organizations, we feel that their requests for funding are overlooked when evaluated by those that allocate monies.
We feel that the percentage of faculty of color should, at least, be comparable to the percentage of students of color.
We feel there are several buildings that are named after individuals who were known for their prejudice against underrepresented groups and makes us feel disrespected, uncomfortable and not welcomed.
We feel many administrators and faculty could benefit from training to be better prepared to teach and engage with students from underrepresented groups.
We feel that Clemson does not embrace its students from underrepresented groups, which makes those students feel as though they are not part of the Clemson Family.”
This coming after a student body out roar against the defacing of an African American Banner on the campus. Clemson is no stranger to insensitive racial behaviors.The Clemson Students have rolled out a list of demands and promise to continue the fight until there demands are met. Peep the demands below.
Current List of Student Demands
“We want President Clements to immediately make a public statement from Clemson University—to students, alumni, faculty, staff, administration and media—denouncing both the Crip’mas Party and hateful statements from members of the Clemson Family via social media (Yik Yak, Facebook, Twitter). Additionally, we want a public commitment from the Clemson University Administration to prosecute criminally predatory behaviors and defamatory speech committed by members of the Clemson University community (including, but not limited to, those facilitated by usage of social media).
We want the construction of a multi-cultural center, a safe space for students from underrepresented groups.
We want more funding for organizations whose primary constituencies are of under-represented groups (international students, students of color, LBGTQA community, etc.).
We want the percentage of people of color in faculty and administration increased.
We want the names of offensively named buildings, ex. Tillman Hall, changed.
We want incentivized diversity training for administrators and faculty.
We want “Diversity” included as a Clemson University core value, starting with a “diversity”/university history component added to the CU1000 course.”
students have gathered in protest in the Sikes hall on the campus of the University and they do not plan to leave until there is change. They have published the changes they want to see implemented immediately on a website bearing the name “See The Stripes!”.
