HISTORY OF RACISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

What has happened since 1999

I left employment at UVM in June 1999 and this web site has not been updated until now, May 2001. In recent months, Judith Ramaley was forced to resign by the Board of Trustees. Geoffry Gamble left to take a presidency at a college in the west. Attacks against people of color, people of Jewish descent, and the GLBTQ community continue - as shown below. When I put this web site together I refrained from personal comment hoping that the history and incidents would speak for themselves. Having been on the outside looking in for almost two years now, I am amazed at the manner in which the UVM [white] community continues to wear blinders around issues of racism, bias and discrimination on the campus. How many more solidarity demonstrations are needed before the community wakes up and faces the truth?

It is my hope that this web site will, in some small way, be a reminder to future generations about the struggle, pain, suffering, and sometimes joy that echo in the earth and buildings at UVM.

05 May 01

In response to the two bias incidents that were recently committed on campus, an open forum was held yesterday, 5/3/01 in North Lounge, Billings Student Center at 4:00 pm.

One student´s perspective on the annual bonfire led by white students and how that translates into white privilege.

25 August 01

In 1995-96 Dr. Melinda L. de Jesus received a Citibank Fellowship which was established after the 1991 Student Takeover in an effort to increase diversity at UVM. She writes about her experience at UVM and her life after in San Francisco. I want to thank Melinda for agreeing to let me post her words on this web site for future generations of UVM students and others who stumble upon this site.

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