To: The UVM Board of Trustees
From: Thomas P. Salmon, President
Re: Shontae Praileau´s Fast
UVM student Shontae Praileau has publicly stated that she would continue her fast until certain demands are met. Those demands include changing certain personnel decisions to her specifications, reinstating the Commission for Racial Justice and Multicultural Education with its former membership, delegating the primary authority for hiring the next Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs to a small group of self-selected students, and creating a separate "Bill of Rights" for ALANA students.
Certain aspects of Ms. Praileau´s statement suggest the adoption of a separatist philosophy I will never endorse as we move forward on these issues. Our goal must be one of inclusion and community building, not one of further fragmentation. UVM strongly supports cultural pluralism and equality, as reflected by our extensive range of ongoing programs, policies, and initiatives and the clear commitment of so many members of our community.
While Ms. Praileau has every right to engage in an act of conscience, I remain genuinely concerned about her well-being and hope that she will choose to rethink her current course of action. Should Ms. Praileau´s fast remain in effect when she returns to campus, we will continue to make all appropriate services available and keep lines of communication open.
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