Black NYU students walk out of class for "Blackout" protest

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November has seen protests on college campuses across the country — most notably at the University of Missouri and at Yale — to protest institutional racism and the lack of a safe place on campus for students of color. In response to these protests, on Monday, Nov. 16 the Black Students Union (BSU) at NYU organized a “Blackout.” Earlier in the day, BSU encouraged students to walk out of class at noon. This walkout would happen simultaneously with similar demonstrations at schools across the country, according to the Facebook event. All day, NYU students to wore black in solidarity with the students of color who continue to feel marginalized on their university campuses across the U.S. Students gathered at 6:15pm at the NYU Kimmel Center for University Life, holding signs reading “We will not be silenced!” and “I stand with Mizzou,” filling the stairs and the balcony of the center. The rally started out with a moment of silence to reflect on racism faced by students of color. Students then stood at a podium to share their experiences with racism at NYU in the form of speeches, poetry and spoken word. Students also made statements on the current climate of students of color at NYU and across the nation. Brea Adaku Childs, the treasurer for BSU, shared the opportunities students have to report issues racism on campus. Childs remarked, “this is not common knowledge, but you can actually report when you have microaggressions or people stereotype you” to the Office of Public Safety. Students made suggestions for updating diversity policies for the university — including eliminating criminal history screenings in the admissions process and making STEM a more inclusive field — by writing their proposals on a large sheet of paper. According to BSU President, Ari Andrews, there are three layers to the Blackout demonstration. First, to show solidarity with each other. Second, to educate the student body through the rally and other public events. Finally, to further policy by providing students the opportunity to propose further diversity policies at NYU. Senior Anjana Sreedhar sympathizes with the students at the University of Missouri and Yale, describing what racism looks like at NYU — “the racism that we see at NYU is much more insidious and harder to read”. According to an email sent to students at the university, NYU administration have organized a “University-wide conversation focusing on racial diversity and inclusiveness in university life and in our broader culture.” The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18.

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