On this twelfth day of the hunger strike of a UVM student, we write as members of the President´s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) to express our disapproval of recent actions taken by your administration.
Recently you met with the PCSW membership. One of the issues you addressed at our request was the Commission on Racial Justice & Multicultural Education's inability to support the new Executive Officer for Cultural Pluralism and Racial Equality position. We asked you who would be the constituency of the new Executive Officer if those persons most concerned with diversity on campus could not work within this structure. Your response reflected a "top down" management structure which precludes community participation, support and input.
Within days after our meeting, the Commission on Racial Justice and Multicultural Education was disbanded, seriously exacerbating an already difficult situation. The Provost´s unilateral action in itself is an inappropriate use of power. We see the creation of the Advisory Group, with the Provost as chair, as an additional reflection of this top down management approach.
We understand the search for the Executive Officer continues to move forward over the protests of the now disbanded Commission on Racial Justice and Multicultural Education, the Student Government Association, and a substantial number of community members; more particularly, a substantial number of ALANA community members. Hiring an executive officer and disbanding the Commission on Racial Justice cannot possibly be effective, considering the scale of disillusionment within the community.
In order for any progress to take place, the UVM community must be the catalyst for change. The President´s Commission on the Status of Women pledges to do everything within our power to support the ALANA community and eliminate racism on campus. We urge you to re-think this issue and stop the search for Executive Officer for Cultural Pluralism and Racial Equality.
cc: Robert Low, Provost
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