What is happening at American Universities?
Universities and colleges around the country often operate as entities unto themselves, and they exist in an insulated environment apart from the rest of the country. Therefore, rules, policies, and events that happen within them can seem strange or shocking to people outside of the college.
University of Kentucky — Racism in America’s education system is nothing new. However, one would hope that in the 21st century, and especially after the Black Lives Matter movement, that universities would be safer spaces for students of color. One student Kylah Spring experienced a racist attack while on her university’s campus in November. The altercation was filmed, and the aggressor, Sophia Rosing, can be seen publicly intoxicated and calling Kylah Spring the n-word. She hits a police officer while he is trying to arrest her. Rosing was charged with disorderly conduct, public intoxication, fourth-degree assault, and third-degree assault of an officer. This attack on Spring happened while she was working for the university at a front desk at Boyd Hall. So, Spring was not only a student but also an employee of the university when she was attacked.
Stanford University — Most colleges have a party culture, but they do not often ban parties. During the first semester at Stanford University, the university released a new alcohol and drug policy. The policy entailed the removal of Stanford's previous "open-door policy" when it came to underage drinking. The old policy made it so that students who were drinking had to tell their RA but RAs did not have to report it and were there to make sure that any drinking happened in a safe environment. With the new policy, RAs are now mandated reporters for any underage drinking or high-risk drinking (for students over 21). Additionally, there has been a severe lack of parties and social activities on Stanford's campus. At the beginning of the first semester, one fraternity's annual all-campus party was postponed by the university. Overall, Stanford is increasing students' animosity towards the administration through their restriction of fun.
Harvard University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — As you might have heard, the Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that could get rid of affirmative action. The case is originally from 2014 where the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) brought two lawsuits against Harvard and UNC, where they alleged that both universities were in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI states that discrimination and exclusion on the basis of race, color, or national origin from any program receiving Federal funding will not be permitted. The Supreme Court accepted to hear an appeal for this case from the First Circuit, and their ruling could overturn the original landmark case Grutter v. Bolinger (2003), which cemented the use of affirmative action.
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Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893
