On Monday, March 11th, in an action reminiscent of the 1970 takeover of the 200s administration building, students occupied the same building. They also released a list of demands: four immediate demands and sixteen long-term demands:
“1) Release the official disciplinary decision as is common practice after the DC has convened; 2) Provide a written apology from each of the students involved in the videos; 3) Ensure that the victimized students are granted academic leniency; and 4) Conduct a global investigation into systemic racism at Fieldston.”
“1) Change the Disciplinary Committee process; 2) Include student representation on the ECFS Board; 3) Provide bias training for all faculty, administrators and staff; 4) Hire more faculty of color; 5) Provide attrition data on faculty of color; 6) Recruit and retain more students of color; 7) Provide data on bias incidents on campus; 8) Include diversity requirements within the school curriculum across divisions; 9) Include indigenous history and English electives in the curriculum; 10) Require a mandatory Black Studies Course at Fieldston; 11) Require diversity and bias training for ALL parents; 12) Establish mandatory racial affinity groups starting in elementary; 13) End racial profiling on campus; 14) Hire an ombudsperson; 15) Protect teachers and students for speaking out against known injustices; and 16) Implement a new reporting system for incidents of bias, bigotry and racism.”
The occupation follows nearly two weeks of town hall meetings, faculty meetings, meetings by student groups and their allies as well as form meetings prior to and following decisions by the Upper School’s Disciplinary Committee.
In short, the discussions have prompted a critical examination of the school culture, curriculum, and its identity. Students who have been trained to think critically and to act ethically have turned the lens on their school and themselves, especially in matters of race and privilege.
The E.C.F.S. community arrived on campus to find students distributing the list of demands and the doors to the 200s blocked by protesting students. Students were informed of sit-ins for those not participating in the lock-out and have occupied the first floor of the library and the entrance to the 400s building. While most classes have been canceled, most students remained on campus, filling the hallways and classrooms of both the 400s corridor, 200s building and the first-floor entrance of the library.
At 9:17, Head of School Jessica Bagby sent an email in response to the Fieldston community detailing the events of the day and sharing that she “will be responding to their demands in concert with the Administrative Council and Board of Trustees.” She added that “the Fieldston campus will operate on a normal schedule today.”
Most classes have been canceled and the Director of Athletics, Gus Ornstein, emailed the community, informing them that P.E. and other spring sports were canceled for the evening.
At 10:40 a.m., Ms. Bagby and members of the Administrative Council went to the administration building to address the students and their demands in an attempt at conversation. The attempts at conversation were rebuked. Students instead asked for the administrators to compose a written response to the student demands.
Student organizers have been planning the lock-out for weeks and a meeting was convened on Sunday to plan and organize both the digital presence of the lock-out and the protest itself. On Wednesday, March 6, an Instagram account @studentsofcolormatter was created, a hint of the forthcoming action. In addition, the protesting students have pointed curious individuals towards the website www.studentsofcolormatter.org, which contains a petition to support their efforts, a link to access a live stream, as well as their list of demands. It has also been confirmed that a number of students participating in the lockout arrived with sleeping bags and provisions to stay overnight.
A Form V student who has helped organize the lock-out said “we’ve been working on trying to protest not the singular isolated issue but a bigger issue we see at this school. We’re not trying to call individuals out, we really just want to help have solidarity and unity so that the whole school can come together.” She added, “we have a lists of demands, things we want to accomplish by doing this, which is why the lock-out is actually happening in the first place. The sit-ins are more to hold people accountable and have people come in solidarity and strengthen the numbers.”
The Form VI dean, when asked for comment, said “I support student activism. I think it’s important for student voices to be heard, so I appreciate their stepping up to address some issues that have been long overdue.”
The administration has also been sent a letter from over 50 faculty members, and growing, expressing their support of student demands. “We, as faculty, resolutely stand in solidarity with the students of color, and their white allies, who demand and deserve answers and change from the institution. Their voices must be heard and their experiences must be taken into account.”
The story was composed at noon on Monday, March 11th and will be updated as the story continues…
