By Anna Hsu, Co-Editor-in-Chief, and Viviana Freyer, Staff Editor
Since the student protest at Haverford on the 28th, the ongoing strike has seen a number of developments. Organizers have compiled a link tree containing all of the relevant documents pertaining to the movement, including the official statement and demands, FAQs, donation forms, and more. This includes the Haverford strike updates document, which details the developments that have occurred over the week, such as capping out funding for the Bi-Co Mutual Aid Fund and hosting two town halls for students and faculty. On November 3, the Philadelphia Inquirer also posted an article reporting on the Haverford strike.
Strike Updates
The strike organizers—the Women of Color House, Black Students Refusing Further Inaction, and Black Students’ League—hosted a town hall for students on November 1 and a separate faculty town hall on November 2.
On November 2, Haverford President Wendy Raymond sent an email to students, faculty, and staff entitled “My response to the HC Strike 2020 Statement & Demands.” In the email, Raymond responded to each of the strike demands, as well as invited the organizers to a November 4 Zoom meeting.
That night, strike organizers replied to Raymond’s email with a number of criticisms, stating that the strike would not end until her response included “clear timelines, transparent budgets, and inclusive accountability measures.” Her proposed solutions were “far too abstract for students to settle,” they said.
“Although President Raymond may feel her response to be genuine, it in fact creates the illusion that progress has been made when it has not,” their response stated. “The response was disappointing, incomplete, and rife with the politician-like rhetoric of ‘advisory groups, committees, and task forces’ which is indicative of the very Haverfordian, bureaucratic attempt to placate our anger and the overall movement. Almost all of the demands clearly stated in our letter were unmet.” Their email claimed that Raymond’s message rang “similar to her hollow response to the Black Students Refusing Further Inaction’s demands from this past summer. […] History continues to repeat itself.”
They demanded that Raymond take a number of specific actions before they would agree to meet on November 5 (not November 4, per pending election results). The steps outlined were:
- President Raymond sets an agenda for the meeting with the strike organizers and releases it publicly 24 hours before the meeting.
- President Raymond details, publicly, the mechanisms for how the meeting will be available for all to view.
- President Raymond commits to limiting the discussion to addressing the demands, and not about the details of last week’s sit-in, nor the strike.
- President Raymond commits to an in-depth revision of her response to our demands to be released to the public by Sunday, November 8th at 9pm EST.
In its final section, the email stated that “while we will respond to President Raymond’s email, this message is a formal reminder that the strike will go on. As a collective force of students and faculty, we will continue to #DisruptHaverford #DisruptHC.”
Respondents to a yes/no poll conducted on the Bi-College News Instagram this week asked, “What do you think of President Raymond’s response?” Out of a total of 136 voters, 25 voted “yes” (positive opinion of the response) and the remaining 111 voted “no” (negative opinion of the response).
An additional section was added for anonymous students to elaborate on their opinions. “Frustrated, unsatisfied, but not surprised. I wanted and still want more,” one student said. “We want rules to definitively change so we don’t have these issues again—not ‘evaluations’,” said another. Other responses also noted that Raymond neglected to mention the return of land to indigenous peoples and the college’s refusal to redistribute its wealth to impacted communities in West Philadelphia. They criticized her focus on referencing previous action instead of addressing “forthcoming and needed action” with “restorative, specific goals,” and referred to the document as “8 whole pages of empty promises and no actual plans.”
However, some responses were sympathetic to Raymond’s letter. “We can’t expect 100% concrete actions right now,” one explained. “There have to be some long-term commitments.” Another student argued that “it was the best she could have produced in the short time it’s been. […] it’s [not] perfect, but I think she makes a point in questioning the limit of the responsibilities of a nonprofit academic institution over realms outside of the college itself.”
Some Haverford students have expressed strong opposition to the strike. On November 1, The Bi-College News and The Clerk each received a request to publish an pseudonymous opinion article titled “Why I Oppose the Strike.” The article primarily referred to President Raymond’s October 28 email as having been “blown completely out of proportion” by organizers, stating that administrators had taken steps to address racial injustice on campus. The author claimed that they were “shocked and hurt” by the strike, which they said they were “too afraid to speak out” against. The article was not published in either newspaper, but printed copies were found distributed across campus on November 2.
By November 3, Bryn Mawr students issued their own set of strike demands for the administration, many of which were specific to Bryn Mawr. That evening, President Kim Cassidy had also sent out an email including a series of goals and timelines in reference to the ongoing Bi-Co strike initiated at Haverford. As of the time of writing, she has yet to respond specifically to the new demands.
On November 1 and 2, the organizers of the Haverford strike held a virtual town hall for Bi-Co students and faculty, respectively, to answer the various questions and concerns of those in support of the strike. The meeting notes for both town halls are summarized in the FAQ below.
Students joined the Zoom in large enough numbers that organizers advised viewers to listen in pods so as not to max out the call. Once the meeting began, they reminded everyone that the demands of the open letter written by the BSRFI still have not been met, and that Haverford president Wendy Raymond had only co-opted their message. They also explained that organizers would be answering frequently asked questions about the strike including the academics, dining, the strike’s timeline, and the importance of staying committed and not giving into the administration.
FAQ
Background
The HC Strike update document provided these quotes on the October 31 update.
“A few students are still confused on how to strike. Before we get there, it is important to remind you the foundations and motivations of our strike. We want to reiterate that this is not a vacation. To put into context where this strike is coming from, is in response to the administration’s continuous exploitation of Black and Brown students, specifically Black women and nonbinary community members. On that note, BIPOC students are intentionally withholding their labor from an institution that continues to exploit their academic, intellectual, and emotional labors without having the adequate resources or competent administration in place to support their needs and demands. Although this has received much attention and support from non-BIPOC community members, the implementation of the strike has been inconsistent.”
“It is imperative that when you strike, you refrain from all work: employment with the college, assignments, deadlines, extracurriculars and correspondence with faculty that goes beyond communicating the goals of the strike and the importance of their commitment. We must get you and the faculty members to be wholly committed to our strike so, together, we pressure administration to make swift institutional changes. The strike cannot succeed if we have a few students turning in work or going to class– which is why it is crucial that you explain to faculty members why they should be committed in our strike and convince them to not penalize us when we do not go to class or turn in assignments. This strike is supposed to disrupt ‘normal’ routines because it is clear that Haverford is too comfortable exploiting BIPOC and isolating itself from the injustice and struggle for liberation just 20 minutes away. We understand that each person has a different reason for coming to this college; however, we have to remember both within and outside of this college there has been a global reckoning with social justice and we cannot put assignments and syllabi over Black lives.”
In the town hall, students wanted to know the strike’s proposed end date. Strike organizers answered that the strike would continue to “disrupt business as usual until [President Raymond] and Dean Bylander agree[d] to set clear and hard deadlines” for how they would get things done. “Unless they accept all the demands, we don’t intend on stopping the strike,” they said.
Organizers reminded students that the current strike demands were “essentially a replica of the demands made by BSRFI (Black Students Refusing Further Inaction).” They said that they expected pushback from the administration, especially in opposition to the demands made in the past. However, they emphasized the importance of acting, rather than supporting the movement as a performative gesture. “You all signed the Open Letter in June, and now it’s time to act.”
The organizers also urged students to “not cross the picket line.” Historically, protestors established a physical boundary called the “picket line” outside their place of employment during a strike. Workers who chose to cross the picket line in spite of the strike actively weakened the collective bargaining power of the group.
The organizers suggested that, as a rule of thumb, students ask themselves the question: “Does [activity] directly benefit the Bi-Co institutions?” They said that if the answer is “yes,” students should avoid participating in the activity. The organizers stressed that eating at the Haverford Dining Center does not cross the picket line, but acquiring food from alternative sources was encouraged. Students had originally been directed to get alternative meals from community houses; however, health concerns in the wake of COVID-19 have since prompted a redaction of this suggestion.
Listed below are activities that the strike organizers stated should be avoided for students who are striking:
- Going to class at either Haverford or Bryn Mawr
- Working in jobs at either Haverford or Bryn Mawr
- Turning in class assignments
- Doing class assignments, but not turning them in
- Working on a senior thesis
- Attending college-sponsored events, such as talks, panels, or lectures
- Participating in Haverford-specific extracurriculars (other than communicating about the strike)
- Participating in Haverford music groups and/or clubs
- Eating at the Coop
Academics
Many students had concerns about the importance of refusing to attend classes and extracurriculars. Organizers stated that Haverford’s status as an academic institution, and the strike’s incentive is to disrupt business as usual, means that any kind of academic activity is off the table, including homework. “Doing homework contributes to the functioning of the institution,” said one speaker. “Use the time you would have spent on homework to educate yourself.”
Students and faculty alike were worried that an academic strike was “self-destructive” in nature, and asked whether there was any alternative to striking. The organizers of the strike pointed to Haverford’s failure to address long-standing problems of racism within the institution, including a 1972 boycott making many similar demands.
According to organizers, the decision to strike was not solely based on President Raymond’s email, but rather, was the result of a culminating frustration with Haverford’s continued failure to enact visible, institutional change in regard to the BIPOC student experience. They acknowledged they were asking the student body to make real sacrifices. However, they emphasized that sacrifice was necessary for tangible progress and reformation. “If we want [administration] to act—which they haven’t for years—then you need to start putting pressure on them in a way where they feel they have no other choice but to respond to our demands,” one organizer said. “So yes, we are asking for a bit of sacrifice from everybody for genuine institutional change.”
Faculty were also concerned about students who were paying to study at Haverford, and whether the strike was being unfair to those who were being deprived a right to education. Some were also worried about how senior students were expected to complete their theses in time, since postponing work now would only make it more difficult for them in the spring. Strike organizers acknowledged that these were important questions to ask, but responded, “It’s just as important to flip the question around and ask how long we can reasonably expect students of color on this campus to tolerate an administration that has so much power over our daily lives while being so completely disconnected from them. […] that is why, more than anything, we want the administration to respond swiftly and decisively towards meeting our demands.”
Additionally, students and faculty were encouraged by strike organizers to reframe their idea of education and learning. “The types of education students engage with are shifted during the strike, not eliminated, they were told. “Instead of relying on information from professors and the institutions they serve, students can devote their time and energy into doing independent research regarding striking, anti-Black racism, critical Black feminist theory, and many more related topics.”
Some faculty worried that the loss of learning would hit some students harder than others (e.g. those who were planning on taking the MCAT, or who were already struggling with class), and asked the organizers whether they supported moving to the pass/fail model from last spring. Organizers responded that students could continue to practice self-studying habits outside of classroom environments, and studying for the MCAT, LSAT, or GRE did not go against the spirit of the strike. They referenced the strike demands, which included academic leniency for all students in the aftermath of the strike. “The pandemic has exposed the ways in which the barriers of success in higher education hurt FGLI students and students of color more than anyone else.”
One organizer suggested that although students were on strike, the educational process for them had not been stopped. “We want to question this idea that because we’re not holding classes, this is a period where nobody’s learning or students are being stunted academically,” they said. “On the contrary, this is a period of intense learning for a lot of students on campus.” Others echoed this sentiment, stating that “anything that doesn’t actively support the college is not considered breaking the picket line. If students want to study for the MCAT/GRE, write personal statements, research graduate schools, etc., all of those things are fine. These pending deadlines [such as senior theses] are all the more reason to put pressure on the administration to meet these demands.”
Students were also confused whether they should still stop going to classes even if they were learning anti-racist material. “The anti-racist education you receive at Haverford is going to be directly shaped by a framework which Haverford is structured on,” organizers responded. “A lot of people point out that they’ve learned their anti-racist education in the classroom, but […] we’ve distributed resources for you to learn on your own. It’s not the responsibility of Black people to do that for you as well.”
Professors also asked whether students were allowed to attend guest lectures or class sections if they focused on anti-racism or anti-Blackness, to which organizers responded that “you should ask if it is materially working towards changing the institutions at Haverford that are so resistant to actually acting on the things they teach.”
Faculty also worried about the impact of closing labs on our BIPOC, women and under-represented-in-STEM faculty, as well as the loss of research opportunities for BIPOC students which were already compromised by the pandemic. Organizers responded that “in any and all strikes, BIPOC people will always be those most vulnerable to harm. […] However, BIPOC students organized this strike … knowing its goal was reparations that would change the harmful conditions that exist and restore some of the harm done by Haverford. […] Keeping labs open will only benefit white and/or the most privileged POC students not participating in the strike, further disadvantaging the larger BIPOC community and those committed to striking for institutional change.”
Additionally, students were urged not to preregister for classes next semester until the strike demands are met. Organizers stated that “anything that functions using the institution oils [its] gears.” Everything related to academia must stop during the strike. Registering for classes indicates that students plan on continuing to go to classes. “We’re not going to roll steady and act with business as usual until you meet our demands.”
“If 800 plus students don’t register, then they won’t be able to make a profit,” said one strike organizer. “They lost millions of dollars in endowments and profits during the last fiscal quarter.” If students do not pay tuition, organizers feel that the college will have no choice but to respond to their demands.
Health
The organizers were careful to emphasize the importance of staying healthy, both physically and mentally, during the strike. Some students expressed reluctance to go to the Dining Center to eat for fear of facing backlash from other strikers. “It’s not a hunger strike,” said one organizer. “It’s important to take care of yourself first. Practice self care, always. See CAPS if you need help. And just as a reminder, this is not an excuse to party.”
The organizers originally asked students not to go to the Dining Center as much as possible near the beginning of the strike, and to instead seek meals through alternative options. “We were originally concerned that dining center workers would get overwhelmed, which is why we told students to rely on other food sources,” said one organizer.
However, the message has since changed. “Do not skip meals. You can go to the Dining Center, but also try and make use of other available food networks.” Community houses at Haverford were originally providing meals for students, but due to concerns of contracting COVID, students are now discouraged from getting food from community houses. Instead, students are asked to eat at the Dining Center, the Nest, or off-campus. However, organizers said that “supporting BIPOC life shouldn’t be detrimental to BIPOC people,” and that the Student Council would reimburse community houses who had already contributed.
The General Manager of Haverford’s Dining Services, Tom Mitchell, also sent an email to students on October 31 saying, “Please know that we have back-up plans in place and are able to feed you. All of us in Dining Services are dedicated to our responsibility: ensuring that you [are] well-fed. We are here, and want to be sure you have access to the food you need.”
That being said, mental health should still stay at the forefront of students’ personal lives. “Please take care of yourselves,” said one organizer. Another agreed. “The strike is to bring the institution to a halt, not the people who exist in it. We’re in the middle of a pandemic; it’s just common sense to do things that are good and healthy for you. Don’t just let things fly out the window because we’re striking. Please continue getting tested for COVID.”
Some professors commented on remote students relying on classes as the “key motivating factor for dealing with the COVID pandemic and the associated, non-academic labor related to the pandemic.” They wondered how they could support students who felt anchored by the presence of classes. The organizers stated that while this was true for some students, for many students of color “it is a source of stress and feelings of inadequacy. […] a way that faculty can support the strike is holding optional class times when class would normally meet to discuss the strike and its demands, learn about the history of police violence, discuss the racism that exists in higher education, etc.”
Communications
The organizers stressed the importance of spreading information to peers, friends, family, and faculty. “We need people to build horizontally…to organize people in your circles: your advisors, your professors, your friends, so we can build toward more commitment in the long term,” one stated.
The strike organizers urged students, especially white students, to communicate and engage with their professors, adding, “it’s obviously reflective if they’re not willing to support students of color during this time.” They stated that students should be “proactive in communicating…and pointing out the issues with their reluctance to support striking students,” and that they could reach out to the strike organizers with any questions. Organizers also pointed to a form students could use to submit responses from faculty regarding the Haverford strike. “We’re hoping that once we collect these responses, we can use them for organizing efforts forward. We want to protect students and faculty from any punitive measures taken against them for striking. […] You can submit screenshots or just the text of the responses, but it’s super helpful for data collection.”
A student participant also suggested contacting the heads of departments to request that they make a united statement about the strike. “Interim faculty and non-tenured faculty who are on visas … could have their Green Card process [threatened]. If the whole department makes a blanket statement, it alleviates some of the pressure on our most vulnerable faculty members.” The organizers pointed to the statement sent by the Anthropology department at Haverford as a good example of what they wanted from faculty. Organizers added that it was critical for non-BIPOC students to show their solidarity by “gathering students to craft a statement together and send it to the departments. […] The fact that it’s coming from non-BIPOC students as well puts even more pressure on the departments to do something.”
In regard to communicating with peers, organizers mentioned that many students were worried about the strikers being perceived as “bullies.” They stated that “[We] have to hold people accountable. Using emotional tactics to try and gaslight [us] in saying that the academic strike doesn’t apply to them … isn’t acceptable.” Others agreed, saying that “if you say this doesn’t involve you, you’re accepting that you’re implicit in this system that abuses and subjugates Black bodies. You’re saying your opinion or your dream does not respect Black lives, the lives that you study about and read about in your multicultural, intersectional classes. That’s really just you … outing yourself, showing who you really are.”
Organizers also urged students to communicate with their parents about the goals of the strike to prevent miscommunication. “There’s been a lot of misinformation going on in terms of Haverford spaces, and among Haverford parents,” one said. “We’ve been getting attacked by this parent group on this alumni Facebook page, so please speak to your parents.” They also added that “obviously a lot of BIPOC student parents are not on this Facebook page, so it’s clear that white parents are the ones talking shit online.”
Finally, organizers added that students were also encouraged to reach out to schools outside the Bi-Co in order to bring attention to the mishandling of BIPOC concerns at Haverford. They stated that the organizers were “increasing the reach of our message and connecting to outside sources. With that being said, people who don’t support the strike or are not organizers could be taking this as a chance to speak to outside sources on their own.” They asked students to connect organizers to news sources and outlets, if possible.
Faculty-Specific Q&A
One participant mentioned item VII in the Statement of Demands, which stated that they demanded accountability for “problematic professors.” Many were unclear about what constituted the label, as well as the types of accountability the strike organizers were interested in seeing. Organizers responded that “problematic” was used as a general, colloquial term for professors who, “either by small or large groups of students,” are considered racist, sexist, homophobic, classist, and/or elitist. “Students are often afraid of negative consequences for confronting professors or speaking to someone about their behavior because of power dynamics,” they stated. “For example, they could threaten students with a lowered grade [for speaking out against them]. We want there to be a way, other than course evaluations or Ombuds, for students to be able to address and confront professors who are harmful to them without fear of repercussions. We want a structure to be put in place, composed by a potential/hypothetical group, to be able to hold professors who have routinely and continuously been offensive to students to be held accountable, and for the admin to take our reports of such incidents seriously.”
Strike organizers also addressed a question about how religious beliefs and striking could coexist. “As a member of the Quaker faith, I myself had to ask how protesting squared with the pacifist teachings,” one said. “Complete tolerance calls for not tolerating the intolerant. Being a bystander to violence is allowing that violence to happen. The community is not at peace if members are being marginalized, aggressed, and devalued. We must strive towards positive peace in our institutions even if that means confronting those who are perpetuating intentionally or unintentionally white supremacy, classism, homophobia, and broad violence.”
The organizers also expressed interest in working with faculty to set up non-hierarchical reading groups on issues like policing, abolition, and race in higher education. They said that they would “welcome all suggestions for readings, recorded lectures, or the work of other activists,” and said they were working on providing “free copies of the recent book and lectures from Fred Moten, an activist and professor at NYU” to students in the Bi-Co.
Image credit: Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons
