Words of a Remote Striker

“I initially became fully aware of the strike at Haverford College Wednesday morning on October 27th. At the time I was a little confused about everything that was going on. I was starting training and onboarding for my second part time job the same day the strike began. I am currently completing schoolwork here at home to help with loss of income in my family that was undergoing months before COVID-19. I remember I woke up on Wednesday to messages from a friend on campus about a strike going on at Haverford. I did not get the chance to read President Wendy Raymond’s email until I was on my way to work, but when I did, I was really just in shock. I remember thinking to myself how could an administration like Haverford’s so comfortably send out such a dismissive and insensitive email at a time when black people are more vulnerable than ever and expect not to receive any backlash? As if a list of demands addressing these same issues was not sent to y’all this past summer?? Like really c’mon now.

This was all also happening during the same time of political unrest in my home country of Guinea. Alpha Condè our current president in Guinea has been announcing for years that he’d change the constitution of the land to allow him to run for a third term and he did just that a couple weeks ago, now serving an unearned presidency. Violence continues to plague the nation and the military are targeting my ethnic group (Fulani’s) on the street who are protesting and even those in their own homes. The ethnic tensions between Fulani’s and Mandinke’s really just continues to divide the nation further, and Guinean youth were inspired to bring attention to these problems through a protest at Boston’s state house. Dealing with the stress of political violence at home, thinking about my brother, grandmother, aunts and uncles who currently live in Guinea and the letter sent out by Haverford’s administration, was all a very overwhelming and disorienting experience. I was trying to do my best to show up and stay connected with all my communities while also ensuring my financial obligations and responsibilities to my family were being met.

Throughout the strike, I have had professors who changed their entire curriculum to focus more on racial justice and equity and others who plain out just ignored the strike altogether, continuing to proceed as usual holding classes with a fraction of students in attendance and scheduling exams despite a time of turmoil. Dealing with the complete ignorance professors in the Economics department showed towards black experiences really was the toughest challenge of all. Considering their lack of sympathy for the lives of BIPOC students in their own classrooms, I just really can’t imagine what they think about the innocent lives of black people taken away by the police.

As a black person myself and someone who deeply cares about BIPOC students feeling supported and welcomed on campus, reading the demands and watching the zoom calls was really such a bittersweet moment where I felt immensely in awe of my peers’ bravery and courage in standing up to administrators but also somewhat guilty for not being on campus helping with all the groundwork. Nonetheless, this was still such a beautiful moment to witness through my computer screen, and I am grateful to have been there in spirit. The time, energy and effort BIPOC students exert on the day to day while on campus and put into this strike really is helping make campus a less miserable place for us all and with that I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to the BIPOC students who were in the forefront of this strike. Y’all really make Bryn Mawr’s campus go round !! For professors actively engaged in teach ins and accommodating students for participating in the strike, changing your course curriculum to focus attention on racial equity, and professors who did not even hesitate for a second to cancel class in support of the strike, thank you for your countless amount of support and listening ears. As for professors who completely ignored the ongoing strike, failing to acknowledge the labor of BIPOC students and the institutional racism I and other BIPOC folx experience during times of unrest: congratulations on being the continued root cause of our pain and suffering.”

Continuing on a Path Forward

The Middle States Evaluation Team will be virtually visiting Bryn Mawr from November 9th-11th as part of the college’s reaccreditation process. For those unfamiliar with this process, the Middle States Team will essentially evaluate the quality of education provided to Bryn Mawr students and assess whether the college meets their commission’s Standards of Excellence. One of the standards requires the active offering of classes and learning experiences towards a degree. Therefore, as indicated in President Cassidy’s email on November 8th, classes will resume on November 9th. President Cassidy and the administration are merely trying to ensure Bryn Mawr is reaccredited, as the Middle States Team only visits every ten years and was originally scheduled to visit this past spring. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled into the virtual visit taking place this week.

Unlike the reaccreditation process, institutional racism does not just take place every ten years. It has been present since Bryn Mawr was founded in 1885, as the college made a rigorous education accessible to only white, wealthy women. President Cassidy explains in the same email mentioned above, “Education is our mission and our reason to exist. The college made a legal and moral contract with its students, and their families, to offer classes. We have an obligation to honor this contract.” If “education is our mission and reason to exist,” then the strike poses no issue as it is educating Bryn Mawr community members on the college’s racist legacy and effects. Several educational opportunities are available, both asynchronous and synchronous. Students and faculty at Haverford and Bryn Mawr are holding teach-ins, and we encourage students to attend one or more during the strike. Additionally, President Cassidy’s citation of a “moral contract” should not only apply to class availability. It should extend to securing justice for BIPOC students, which is what the strike aims to do. Justice has not been established, so the strike continues.

It is crucial for students to receive support from faculty and have them as allies. Although classes are resuming due to the Middle States Team’s visit, curriculums should be modified to teach students about racial injustice. This would allow students who have to attend class to do so without breaking strike as normal class material would not be taught. Departments should also address the systemic racism present within themselves and write letters to the administration in support of the strike. Such letters should mirror the letter written by Haverford’s biology department, which stated that they would be restructuring to help create an “antiracist, inclusive department, recentered with voices that are traditionally marginalized.” Changes similar to this will benefit students in all departments, especially LGBTQIA+, FGLI students, and those with disabilities. After all, it is a departmental responsibility to do what is best for their students. Finally, Bryn Mawr’s administration has been intimidating professors and students by claiming that there is no way to protect international students who strike, as well as those on financial aid. However, there are ways to protect these students; one being the implementation of the previously mentioned changes to class curriculums. International students could attend class, as it is necessary for their visas, but also not break the strike by doing asynchronous work and attending teach-ins. This would allow them to support the strike while fighting for institutional change through education. The only thing needed for this to be a successful protest is the support and flexibility of faculty members.