By: Lian Bunny
Photo Editor
A group of St. Bonaventure students, faculty and staff gathered today at 11:45 a.m. to take a photo to show Bonaventure supports students of all color, especially those at the University of Missouri.
Bonaventure’s sign of solidarity stemmed from the protests at Mizzou after university officials failed to address specific instances of racial prejudice. JW Cook, treasurer of Bonaventure’s Student Government Association (SGA), gave a speech before an official photo was taken.
Good morning,
My name is JW Cook and I am the Treasurer of the St. Bonaventure University Student Government Association (SGA). I come before you today as a concerned student.
One week ago, a group of students at the University of Missouri banded together in solidarity to protest inaction in the face of oppression. These students courageously stood up to administrators who refused to acknowledge that they were contributing to a climate of inequality and discrimination.
We are gathered here today to stand in solidarity with all students of color, especially those at the University of Missouri. I am please to be with you and have the chance to speak about this important issue and its impact on our St. Bonaventure student body.
As representatives of the governing student body here at St. Bonaventure, we are a unified voice of the people. We strive to create an environment that respects, reflects, and protects the interests of the entire St. Bonaventure Student Body.
The marginalization of students of color is a problem many campuses are failing to address. The University of Missouri is not alone. All across the nation, college campuses are facing discrimination and prejudice. St. Bonaventure has not been immune to these difficult times.
The Students of the University of Missouri were successful in removing their University President, Tim Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe allowed racial discrimination to run rampant at Mizzou. The students were successful for one reason and one reason alone. They banded together and faced adversity head on. They knew that in order to be successful they needed to unify, and that is exactly what they did.
With that being said, your SGA Executive Board wants you to know we support all of our diversity club on campus. We hope that through our relationship with the Damietta Center, we can better address diversity issues here on campus. We hope our Damietta Center clubs will meet with SGA and, together as one, take our concerns to the administration. We are stronger together than we are divided. It is time we become one and move forward towards progress here at St. Bonaventure.
To students of color at Mizzou, and to all students of color, St. Bonaventure stands with you in solidarity.
