WSU students gather at Walk Out Against Hate Tuesday.
WESTFIELD – Members of the Education faculty at Westfield State University organized a “Walk Out Against Hate” rally at 12:30 on Tuesday, surrounding the campus globe. The goal was to foster and support a campus culture of unity, inclusion and respect for diversity in response to the recent acts of racially charged bias behavior on campus, according to a university statement.
“We’re standing up publicly. There is no room for hate here,” said Barbara Goff, professor of special education to the hundreds of students and staff that gathered for the rally. Dr. Floris Ortiz-Marrero, assistant professor of elementary education said the faculty was united to demand practical and tangible changes. Ortiz-Marrero called for a mandatory course for every student at WSU from the first year forward on racism and bigotry in all its forms.
ICE coordinator Lyndsey Nunes shared her disappointment with recent events.
ICE (Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment) coordinator Lyndsey Nunes suggested having a designated number on campus that anyone could call if they were feeling unsafe. Nunes said she has been at WSU for five years, and was “never more disappointed than by recent events.”
Students were also invited to the mic to speak about their concerns. Senior Bridget Higgins spoke about her frustration with recent events on campus that have included racial epithets written on dorm room doors, and one student allegedly being assaulted by three males who knocked down her backpack, and made racist comments.
WSU senior Bridget Higgins said she “could never have imagined” this happening at WSU.
Higgins said she “could never have imagined” this happening. “I thought racism was a dying thought. White supremacy is a real thing,” she said, adding, “I was proud to be an Owl – until today.”
Genesis Perez with students who marched on Monday to the president’s office.
Genesis Perez asked all the students who marched with her on Monday to the president’s office to come forward, and was joined by more than a dozen, mostly minority students. She said they marched from the globe to Horace Mann to speak with WSU President Ramon Torrecilha about their concerns. “The situation wasn’t being talked about in class,” Perez said, saying the march was impromptu and not planned in advance, or in front of the media. “Only one white student joined us. What’s the purpose of saying we and one if you don’t want to join us?” Perez added.
Genesis Perez
Following the rally, Perez said, “We were tired of the school doing kumbaya; tired of feeling afraid.” She said they were able to meet with the president for 10 or 15 minutes before a campus-wide lockdown occurred in an unrelated incident. She said they expressed a bunch of emotions to him; they were angry, sad and disappointed. She said he listened, but told them he couldn’t do anything if they don’t come together as one as a university. “We have to come as one for change,” Perez said.
A foreign student from Sweden who introduced herself as Nellie, also spoke out at the rally. She said racism is systemic in the whole campus, and in the whole world. She said she has seen it in Sweden. “We need to talk about silence, complacency. There are a lot of education majors on this campus. What will we tell them, teach them about, justice, or unicorns and rainbows? Speak up. End racism. Don’t just stand idly by,” Nellie said.
Junior Candace Alexander became emotional. “I never felt so unwanted before. It really does hurt,” she said about the racist incidents.
Junior Candace Alexander said she had never regretted the decision more to transfer to WSU. She said during the election of Donald Trump, there was a “no colored here” sign in Newhall. “I never felt so unwanted before. It really does hurt. I feel like I made a mistake coming here,” she said. “How far does it have to go before this stops. I just want you to understand this hurts. Do you have to find a dead body hanging in a dorm? I really want Westfield to do better, before something happens that they can’t take back,” Alexander added.
Corey Poulin came forward, saying he hadn’t intended to speak. “This is my city. I was born and raised in Westfield. I’m appalled by what’s going on,” he said. Poulin said he is studying communications, but this is “not fake news, not alternative facts.” Poulin described himself as white, and a student with autism. “It started with the president of our country. We need to break down walls not build them,” Poulin said. “This is my city. One day I want to run for office in this town, and make changes,” he added.
Corey Poulin of Westfield, a part-time senior transfer student, said he was “appalled” by recent events. He said he loves Westfield, and hopes to run for town office one day and make some changes.
After leaving the mic, Poulin repeated that he was appalled at where this university is headed. “I can’t stand idly by. I’m proud to be a person with autism,” he said, adding that he has been discriminated against for his intellectual disability, but not as much as the black and Latino students. “The last couple of semesters, just terrible,” he said. When asked if he has experienced the same things in the city of Westfield, Poulin said, “It’s one of the cities that voted for Trump. I think that’s an issue. I see the confederate flag more than ever,” he said, adding that going back to its roots it stands for slavery. Poulin said he will run for the City Council one day, adding that he has also participated in the Westfield Special Olympics.
WSU President Ramon Torrecilha closed the rally, thanking the Education Department for organizing the event. “We stand with you. I thank students for coming together and standing up against hate on campus. Your voices have been heard,” President Torrecilha said, adding, “I’m encouraged by the dialogue. I hope we can draw upon the collective knowledge of dedicated individuals for a new era of dignity and respect. It’s the responsibility of each one of us to be vigilant as we try to rid the campus of hate and intolerance. (We are) steadfast in our resolve. I hope that we can count on one another.”
