K-State president asks university leaders to ‘fast-track’ new policy against racism
After listening to the voices of many angry students and the entire Kansas State football team, university president Richard Myers is asking campus administrators to “fast-track” new school policy that will “combat racism and bigotry and other forms of social injustice” across campus.
In a letter posted on K-State’s academic website Monday, Myers said he had heard from “hundreds, if not thousands” of people connected to the university who are upset about a current student posting an insensitive tweet about George Floyd in the past week.
Many have wondered how the university will respond. How can K-State go beyond words and take action?
“What we can do is rise up in peaceful protest and let those who spew hatred and bigotry know that we have an even stronger voice,” Myers wrote. “As your president, I’m willing to join these protests and amplify your voices, particularly for those individuals from marginalized populations who are the most vulnerable in these situations.”
“I’ve asked our administration to fast-track action plans to combat racism and bigotry and other forms of social injustice. We’ll talk about these action plans in K-State Today later this week. We’ll make every effort to make sure everyone’s voice is heard as we address these very serious concerns.”
“I am sorry these incidents have caused our K-State family great pain and for some to fear for their personal safety. We pledge to work together to protect the well-being of everyone as we strive to eliminate racism, hatred and bigotry on our campuses.”
That plan for action seems to align with everything members of the K-State football team demanded over the weekend, when every active player on the roster shared a letter on social media announcing that they would not “play, practice or meet” until the university created a policy that will allow a student to be expelled for displaying “openly racist, threatening or disrespectful actions” toward any of their fellow students.
The football team’s letter came a day after several student-athletes at K-State threatened to boycott all team activities unless the university took action against Jaden McNeil, the student who posted an insenstive tweet that read: “Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!”
That tweet was met with anger from many with connections to K-State, including student-athletes who decided to use their platforms to condemn McNeil. In a sign of how much power college athletes currently have, their demands have been heard and real change is being considered.
The K-State football made the loudest statement yet. If nothing happens, players say they won’t report when summer workouts resume on July 13 — or play when the season is scheduled to begin on Sept. 5.
K-State football coach Chris Klieman supported their actions over the weekend.
“Racism is not welcome at K-State now or in the future,” Klieman wrote on Twitter. “On and off the field, as a family, we will make a difference through our action. I am excited to help every player unite for the solution now, so that we can come together stronger than ever. Black Lives Matter.”
It appears as though their voices have also been heard by the university’s president.
“Students, faculty, staff and alumni who are badly hurt or embarrassed for our university are rightly calling for social justice and demanding change,” Myers wrote. “The university supports these demands and believes actions are needed. When society cries out for justice, we must listen and proceed in making changes within the limits of the law.”
“Universities have always been places where controversial ideas can be widely shared and discussed. Our goal, embedded in our Principles of Community, is that this discourse be civil, with participants being treated with dignity and respect. We want every student on our campuses, as well as all faculty and staff, to know they are safe and to be treated with respect and common decency. These have been our values since our founding. There is no place on our campuses for racism, hate and bigotry.”
It is unclear exactly what any new university policy against racism might look like, as there are complicated First Amendment rights to navigate in this situation.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 2:52 PM with the headline "K-State president asks university leaders to ‘fast-track’ new policy against racism."