Published On: October 10th, 2019Categories: Uncategorized

University of Colorado Boulder and student leaders reached an agreement Wednesday to implement reforms that will address and prevent racism on campus.

The agreement came three days after a video was posted to social media of a white woman accosting black students studying at the Engineering Center, yelling racist slurs and expletives.

On Monday, CU Boulder’s Black Student Alliance presented a list of five demands to campus leaders that centered on accountability and policy change to prevent further acts of racism.

After a meeting with Chancellor Phil DiStefano and other campus leaders on Wednesday, the Black Student Alliance released a statement with how the university will answer each of its demands.

The agreement includes posting fliers of the woman sought by police for harassing students and banning her from campus and starting discussions about how to improve incident reporting and staff training, according to the group and a statement from CU Boulder.

“In the last four days we have strengthened our resolve and channeled our anger into institutional reform,” the group wrote in a statement. “We made our voices heard. To our community, it is imperative that we remember those voices who are silenced and whose identities are not represented, and develop frameworks around true equity and inclusion.”

The alliance’s statement included many more details about what university officials will do in the coming days and weeks than the statement released by CU Boulder.

Spokeswoman Candace Smith said the university’s statement was its official position and was agreed upon “by all parties involved.”

In the CU statement, DiStefano described the meeting as productive and providing a path forward.

“Other issues such as enhancing cultural competency of staff, faculty and fellow students will take longer to address, and I am committed to working with students on our campus to increase awareness and achieve lasting behavioral change,” DiStefano said.

DiStefano will release another update by the end of next week, according to the university.

Nearly 100 students protested outside of the University Memorial Center on Wednesday morning while members of the Black Student Alliance and other student groups met with campus leaders inside.

Leaders from campus groups spoke in support of the Black Student Alliance and called for change.

Senior Max Bailey helped lead chants that echoed through the courtyard. Bailey said he’s worked nonstop since Sunday to spread awareness and check in with his community.




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