Seton Hall Protests Enter Second Week As Talks Continue

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - Talks continue between the student activist group the Concerned 44 and administration officials at Seton Hall University as the protests over perceived racial inequity stretched into its second week.

After a tumultuous week on the South Orange campus where students camped out in President's Hall, marched through the library, drew criticism from classmates, rallied on the green, walked into downtown South Orange and accused a professor they encountered in the Faculty lounge of assault ended with an offer of compromise from administration.

An offer that was rejected.

Despite the setback, both parties are continuing the dialogue, according to Seton Hall University spokesperson Laurie Pine.

"At 4 p.m. today, University leadership met with representatives of Concerned 44. We discussed the group’s concerns regarding curriculum, diversity and inclusion," Pine said in an email Wednesday. "Every solution to pressing problems involves honest dialogue by all parties involved."

SHU_concerned 44 describes itself: "The Concerned 44 represents the marginalized student body at Seton Hall University. We are standing with the Black Caucus to make our voices heard!"

In videos posted to the SHU_concerned 44 the group can be seen carrying signs and heard listing their demands which include a thorough examination and reconstruction of administration departments that handle complaints about equity and discrimination, more funding for the Latin American Studies program and Latino/Latina Studies program as well as the Africana Studies program.

"We are deeply dissatisfied with the way students of color have been treated and represented and are holding the administration accountable," SHU_concerned 44 said in a post on Twitter.

The group said they have given the administration a list of five demands that they want met as tuition paying students.

"They have been blatantly pushed to the side and disregarded and we refuse to be ignored," the group said.

According to Interim President Mary Meehan, that has not been the case as she maintains the University's leadership has been meeting on an ongoing basis with the Concerned 44 student protesters during the past week to address their concerns and offer realistic solutions.

"To date, the Concerned 44 have rejected all our proposed solutions," Meehan said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Meehan, late Monday evening she alongside the executive committee of the Faculty Senate, SGA leadership, Interim Provost Karen Boroff and other senior University leadership attended a meeting to discuss the demands of the Concerned 44 have been circulated widely.

You can see them for yourself here.

"During the meeting, I once again informed the students that the University's senior leadership has listened to their concerns. We are committed to making immediate changes that are aligned with Seton Hall's mission and dedication to provide a high-quality educational experience for all our students," Meehan said. "Faculty are prepared to make changes in academic programs and departments, recognizing that these changes require additional time for careful analysis and study."

Meehan said the activists were presented with "thoughtfully considered and realistic responses" to the students' demands which were ultimately rejected.

The activist group has drawn its share of criticism as well as praise on campus this week. Students reached out to Patch sharing their concerns with the SHU_concerned 44. These students, fearing retaliation, asked to speak anonymously.

"I have friends who agree that their protests interrupting classes and screaming at passerby's are intimidating and inappropriate," one student said. "I also know that on their Instagram that they mentioned that our Interim President's response to their demands wasn't good enough but many questioned why that is."
A sophomore at Seton Hall wrote an open letter to the protesters and shared it with Patch. In the opening remarks the student describes the disruption to student life.

"Running into them is now unavoidable. The group has been noticeably seen openly protesting outside of President's Hall as well as in the university library and in multiple classroom buildings including Stafford Hall. While I am supportive of peaceful protests, this protest is anything but peaceful. Being screamed at while walking to and from class, having classes be disrupted by vocal protests, and being unable to focus and study for midterms while in the library are just some of the problems caused by these protests. You cannot preach about wanting to enhance the university and the experiences of students while disrupting the education of others around you," the letter said.

The characterization of the group as less than peaceful was also used by History Professor Williamjames Hoffer, who had an altercation with the group in the faculty lounge.

Hoffer said it seems as if the protesters believe they are engaging in some sort of civil disobedience akin to Ghandi or Martin Luther King, but that isn't the case.

"What they are doing is much more aggressive," Hoffer told Patch. "They are not engaging in civil disobedience. What they are doing is provocative and meant to create an exacerbation of tension and chaos."
Hoffer was accused of making physical contact with Miles, one of the movements organizers. An exchange that Hoffer says has been mischaracterized.

The Twitter page for SHU_concerned 44 posted:

"During our PEACEFUL protest Professor Williamjames Hoffer here at Seton Hall University, shoved a student and had to be held back by his faculty members... This is WHY we are protesting! The security has been "protecting" the provost while the students are being attacked!"

Hoffer told Patch the contact was inadvertent contact when he attempted to students from trespassing in the University Club. Hoffer said that when he saw the group approaching he put his hand up with a stopping motion like a police officer and tried to block them from entering and the group ignored him and went into the room.

"In the process my hand came in contact with the shoulder of a female student," Hoffer said. "I was not attempting to harm or shove anyone."

Pine said the University was informed of an alleged incident between a faculty member and a Concerned 44 student protester while protesting inside the Faculty Lounge.

"The University takes allegations of this nature very seriously and urges the student involved in this incident to come to Public Safety so the matter can be investigated," Pine said. "Seton Hall's top priority is to provide a safe and welcoming campus environment where all members of the University community feel respected."
The Concerned 44 have been posting to social media frequently, describing what they call intimidation tactics and threats by the University. Meehan characterizes those exchanges differently.

"The Concerned 44 were informed on Saturday that they had violated their original request to hold a three-day sit-in of Presidents Hall from Oct. 24-26. This request was originally approved in keeping with the University's Student Protest Policy," Meehan said. "The group, unfortunately, violated its initial approval, continuing the sit-in. When I met with the students last evening, I once again informed them of this violation and requested that the group end the sit-in, or the students would be subject to disciplinary action."
Meehan said that those decisions are about balancing the need of all members of the campus community.

"We must balance the needs of all members of our campus community. It is important that we continue to provide a safe environment that is conducive to learning," she said.

Pine said that the talks continue on campus.

"The Administration, Faculty Senate and Student Government Association are committed to working together to implement a number of new diversity and inclusion initiatives," Pine said.

Messages to Miles and other members of Concerned 44 have not been returned.

(Photo courtesy of Google Earth)

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