Seton Hall Students Face Pushback As Protests Continue

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - As protests over racial inequity continue on the campus of Seton Hall University, the group of students speaking out are receiving pushback from both the administration and fellow students. Monday marks the beginning of the second week of protests with civic actions planned through Tuesday.

Last week included a presence outside of interim President Mary Meehan's office. The Twitter page for SHU_concerned 44 posted that the group will complete three days of sit-ins Friday with an additional planned protest on Monday on the University Green. All will culminate Tuesday with a walk out from the University Green to the South Orange Village.

The activist group, which counts students Taylor Newkirk, Emani Miles, Aleessa Akegnan and Chris Duran among their leadership, said their name comes from the percentage of marginalized and minority students on campus.

According to a report by the Sentonian, the group presented a list of revamped demands whittled down to five from 18. The original list was presented by the Black Caucus to the University last semester in the wake of the news that Dr. Karanja Keita Carroll, a former adjunct professor of Africana Studies, didn’t have his contract renewed, the report said.

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.

In addition to the demands, the group also created an online petition.

In a series of screenshots posted to social media on Twitter and Instagram the University responded to the list of demands that received on Oct. 23. In a point by point response the University offered to engage in a dialogue and work with the students on their demands. The response posted underneath the images said "Keep in mind this is something we demanded. WE WANT ACTION, NOT CONVERSATION."

The group's actions has garnered support on social media and on campus, but also has drawn out critics. 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:

"To whom this may concern,

The recent protests by a group named on campus solely as “The Concerned 44” have encased our entire campus 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.

As for the demands being asked, I personally find them to be unreasonable to say the least. I challenge those asking for more funding in the departments of Africana studies, Latin American studies, and Latina/Latino studies programs to show statistics on the employment rates of those who major in these studies. In addition, when you enrolled in our university, you knew what programs were offered as well as the depth to which these programs covered so for you to hold issue with this now seems like an oversight on your parts. If you feel so strongly for the development of these programs, raise the funding within your group. Hold bake sales and fundraisers because if you truly have over a thousand signatures, I’m certain you can raise a good amount of money for these programs yourselves, that is if you’re that passionate about inciting change."

The letter also takes issue with funding certain programs and creating classes that cater to a particular demographic and questions the wisdom of students being involved in the hiring of faculty.

"As for your demand for students to be a part of the hiring process for professors, what qualifications do you think students posses to be able to judge whether or not a professor would be a good fit for a position? I’m assuming this demand is a strategy for ensuring more racially diverse professors are hired, but that cannot be the only reason they are hired. They must fit the position well. Students are not knowledgeable in every department so they cannot speak for how well a candidate would fit a position."

The letter says that the group's demonstrations and protests are not for equality or positive universal change but for calculated change that only helps those they support.

"It is unfortunate that you have caused such a divide among students as I like to think of Seton Hall as my home away from home. I ask this as a fellow student, please stop disrupting classes and the education of others. My professor should not have to stop my class to ask your protestors to be quiet in the hallways while he is trying to teach. Be peaceful in your protests, screaming 'no justice no peace' is not peaceful, in fact it’s rather threatening. Work for a better more unified Seton Hall, not a division among races that negatively impacts student’s abilities to learn. I wish you all nothing but the best in your efforts to enhance Seton Hall, but I hope in return that you take my words into consideration next time you wish to scream in the faces of those who have served you no injustice."

For their part, the University said in a statement late last week that they respect the right of the students to protest peacefully, but they also pushed back with an email sent to the protesters about vacating President's Hall. Vice President of Student Services at Seton Hall Tracy Gottlieb told the group that the three days they were approved for a sit-in was up and they needed to leave.

"We also would like to address the fact that Seton Hall University does not want us occupying Presidents Hall any longer," the group captioned the email screenshot. "And have been trying to block our first amendment right to protest by issuing threats to our supporters."

Meehan said they were still trying to come to a resolution with the group.

"This afternoon, approximately 35 students of the Concerned 44 protested on campus, voicing their demands to the community at large. The Concerned 44 submitted five written demands regarding diversity in the curriculum, formation of new academic departments, faculty hiring and diversity initiatives on campus," Meehan said in a statement. "The University’s leadership met several times with the students and submitted a written response detailing seven action items, which the Concerned 44 have rejected."

Meehan said that University leadership, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate and the SGA leadership are meeting with the students Monday night at 5 p.m. to hear their reasons for rejecting the University’s prior responses to their demands and to now work together to resolve them.

"The University welcomes constructive dialogue to address student concerns. We are hopeful that tonight’s dialogue will produce understanding, reconciliation and a clear path forward," Meehan said.

As tensions rise and students report more and more disruption, Meehan noted that disciplinary action could take place if needed.

"It is important to know that students who disrupt the safety, learning, living, and working environment of our community face disciplinary action in accordance with University policies," Meehan said.

(Photo courtesy of Google Earth)

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