As the extended time period allotted for open forum lasted for the entirety of a student government meeting Wednesday night, University of Wisconsin students raised grave concerns surrounding recent racial incidents on campus in addition to budget cuts to multicultural organizations.
A victim of the recent incident at the Delta Upsilon fraternity, which is currently being investigated by UW administrators for alleged racist and classist slurs, was one of the first to speak at the meeting and criticized representatives for not participating more in diversity training to serve in their offices during an open forum that spanned five-and-a-half hours.
She said as elected representatives of the student body, Associated Students of Madison members should give a voice to all students and stand up against potential hate crimes.
“The worst part of that wasn’t the language. It wasn’t the bottle. It was the guy that ran after me after the bottle was thrown and said, ‘he’s drunk, he didn’t mean it,'” she said. “The worst part about being a victim of anything is silence.”
She added campus is not a safe place for many students on campus, and others have raised similar concerns, showing how ASM needs to take action against these types of incidents, attempt to impact the campus climate and ensure students do not go unheard.
One way many speakers said representatives can make sure these incidents do not go without a response is by attending diversity trainings and events on campus, a statement echoed by diversity organization members throughout the meeting.
Multicultural Student Center member Amberine Huda said ASM’s cuts to diversity organizations has illustrated a “multicultural incompetence,” which could be rectified by diversity training.
“The Diversity Committee right now is the only committee that applies multicultural competencey to its decision-making process, and the resolution to provide training for these issues is absolutely imperative,” Huda said.
The Multicultural Student Coalition recently sent a 15-page long letter to Chancellor David Ward as a final appeal for student segregated fee funding after being denied for not meeting direct services to student criteria and missed deadlines from the Student Services Finance Committee. The group was also denied in multiple appeals before the Student Judiciary.
Huda, with other speakers from the Native American group Wunk Sheek, Asian American Student Union and Promoting Racial Equity and Awareness, also expressed support for recent moves by ASM’s Diversity Committee that called for educated and trained professional advising on policy, student organizations and diversity.
MCSC member Jarred Garcia added many students who experience hate crimes do not know who to go to when the incidents occur and do not feel ASM is representative of the student body as a whole.
“All of these organizations are being de-funded because of these laws. Why aren’t we pointing at these laws”? Garcia said. “I’m not asking any of you – as white allies – I’m not asking you to walk in my shoes. That’s not possible. I’m asking you to walk with me.”
Newly-elected Rep. Jeremy Levinger also proposed the body find new ways to respond to racial incidents, with some representatives suggesting changes to the ethnic studies requirement, pressuring of campus administrators and open forums.
Newly-elected Rep. Richard Rolland, who opposed the continual extensions to open forum, challenged the discussion for diverting the recent budget denials to Student Council members.
“We have not done anything wrong in my opinion,” Rolland said. “I just feel like this room has been full of hate this entire meeting … It seems like a lot of people are trying to filibuster us to keep us from getting to legislation.”
United Council of UW Students Vice President Dylan Jambrek also spoke during open forum to address the recent protest by students in Washington, D.C., against rising student debt, where three members of the student government were arrested for trespassing.
Rolland also challenged the actions according to part of the ASM Constitution, which states segregated fee expenditures should be consistent with all federal and state laws.
Newly-elected Rep. Maxwell John Love responded the segregated fees did not pay for the action that resulted in their arrest, and ultimately no formal charges were filed – meaning there was no violation of the law.
“Considering the fact that I made a personal decision, I don’t think I violated that part of the constitution,” Love said. “If you think that I did, feel free to go tell the Dean of Students’ office … I feel confident enough in the fact that I stood up for students.”
