In yet another case of campus unrest due to lack of racial sensitivity on college campuses, the dean of Claremont McKenna College resigns - this time with Latino students at the helm of the situation.
Mary Spellman resigned after students began to protest over her and her office's inability to effectively deal with issues of racism and hate speech at the Southern California liberal arts college over the past few years.
Spellman sent an email to Latina undergraduate student, Lisette Espinosa, in which students believe she implied students of color "did not fit our CMC mold." Spellman is said to have apologized, but the damage was done and the email began to circulate.
Tensions hit the roof when a black student, Casey Garcelon, posted a photo of students perpetrating Mexican culture for Halloween - donning ponchos, sombreros, and maracas - to her Facebook.
"Dear Claremont community, For anyone who ever tries to invalidate the experiences of POC at the Claremont Colleges, here is a reminder of why we feel the way we do. Don't tell me I'm overreacting, don't tell me I'm being too sensitive. My voice will not be silenced. I'm mentally drained from being a part of this community and I've had enough. If you feel uncomfortable by my cover photo, I want you to know I feel uncomfortable as a person of color everyday on this campus."
On Wednesday, CMC President Hiram Chodosh promised students he was taking steps to ensure address the students' concerns, including "two new leadership positions on diversity, a review of the student affairs office, plans to facilitate forums on race and the creation of "programming space to support campus climate (identity, diversity, and free speech)," reports Huffington Post.
However, according to protesters Chodosh has made empty promises before and they have little faith in what he will do next. Huffington Post said, "Chodosh promised eight months ago to create a hub for marginalized students, and nothing happened."
Students have further reported racial tensions on the campus are far beyond Halloween costumes but disrespect in the classroom and social events, which include photos of slaves in Facebook invitations to a pirate-themed party, complaints by students of color that they were spat at and peed on at parties, vandalism of Queer Resource Center posters with anti-gay language, vandalism of Black Lives Matter posters, and a student activist's contention he was called a 'cockroach' by a professor."
Hopefully the president's promises come to pass.