This Week in Higher Education

Racism on Campus

Racism on college campuses has come to the forefront with two ongoing protests at Yale University and the University of Missouri this week.

The president and the chancellor at the University of Missouri have both resigned under pressure from student protesters who say they hadn't been responsive enough to racist incidents on campus.

The shakeup is due in part to one student's weeklong hunger strike, in addition to the support of the school's football team and faculty members.

At Yale University, a conversation around a Halloween email urging students sensitivity has spun out into protests around the deeper issues of racism and free speech at the Ivy League university.

See how the situation has unfolded, and join the conversation.

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

The Gist has been following Joe Twitter (@joetwitter) this week for his insightful commentary on this issue.

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

Roxanne Gay provides a detailed historical context for student activism on campuses, from the civil rights movement to the present.

Student Activism Is Serious Business.

“Whether we agree with these student protesters or not, we should be listening: They are articulating a vision for a better future.”

by Roxanne Gay, The New Republic

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

University of Missouri coach, Gary Pinkel stands with students and football team in viral tweet.

Recommended by Agnes Mazur, @amazur contributor on January 1, 1980

A snapshot of the demographics of Mizzou. A key concern from protesters is the lack of black faculty on campus.

Source: Five Thirty Eight

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

3 minute video explanation of the situation at Mizzou

Source: Vox

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

Campuses nationwide stand in solidarity with students at Yale and Mizzou

22 Campuses Who Spoke in Solidarity with Mizzou & Yale This Week #BlackonCampus

"We stand in solidarity with students at Missouri, Yale and all across the country who are boldly making their unapologetic demands for equity, justice, and an education that does not denigrate our identities, heard across dining halls, classrooms, and campus greens."

by Blavity

Recommended by Agnes Mazur, @amazur contributor on January 1, 1980

A timeline of events leading up to the resignation of Mizzou president, Tim Wolfe

Racial climate at MU: A timeline of incidents this fall

The racial climate at MU has been tumultuous for months, but with recent events — including a hunger strike undertaken this week by a graduate student and campus activist — conversation and action have hastened. Here’s a chronological look at the key incidents since September that have led to an escalation of tension on campus.

by Emma Vandelinder, The Missourian

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

The Washington Post’s Philip Bump on the political power of athletes

How the Missouri football team just took down its university president

"There are a few reasons that the football team's protest garnered more attention — and was probably more likely to yield results. Given that this is fundamentally a political protest, it probably won't come as a surprise that those reasons overlap heavily with methods of leveraging political power."

by Philip Bump, The Washington Post

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

The divide between campus administration and students is emblematic of the problem of 21st century campus politics.

A clash between administrators and students at Yale went viral. Why that is unfortunate for all concerned.

"The problem is that for those of us not at Yale, it is all too easy for the most absurd, theatrical and controversial elements of this dispute to blow up on our social media, and to have those aspects of the incident frame how we perceive the current state of play."

by Daniel W. Drezner, The Washington Post

Recommended by Katherine Nagasawa, @heyitsladynaga contributor on January 1, 1980

Footage displays tense standoff between student and Yale professor Nicholas Christakis

Source: Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

Recommended by Joe Gist host on January 1, 1980

Colleges are grappling with how to deal with students' requests for greater sensitivity, at Yale and elsewhere.

Yale's big fight over sensitivity and free speech, explained

"The dispute that started it all might seem trivial. But the uproar is tapping into deeper issues of racism and free speech at the Ivy League university, issues similar to those faced by many American colleges that have come to the forefront this year."

by Libby Nelson, Vox

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