Oklahoma State students demand punishments for the ‘racially insensitive’ and focus on ‘worthy’ blacks
A group of black students, self-proclaimed “The Four Percent,” at Oklahoma State University are demanding students or faculty who are “racially insensitive” be punished and silenced as part of their requested revisions to the school’s code of conduct.
The Four Percent, draw their name from the school’s data on the student population at Oklahoma State, where blacks are presumably 4%.
photo/ George Zimmerman protester planted by a leftist group
The group stated on Twitter it hopes to “eventually represent every Black student who makes up the four percent (and hopefully marginalized students outside this percentage as well).”
“We submit that the university make an amendment to the student code of conduct’s social justice legislation section to add language that will make ‘racially insensitive and/or racist rhetoric and behavior made public knowledge’ a punishable action,” the group’s public demand letter states.
In a statement to The College Fix, Burns Hargis, president of Oklahoma State, wrote that the institution is still working on making the campus more inclusive but stopped short of saying campus leaders will enact any of the demands.
“We understand The Four Percent group’s concerns and appreciate its input. We also want to create the best university possible. Through our vice president of diversity division and a host of other programs and efforts, OSU has made significant strides in being more diverse and inclusive. We have received numerous national awards for our extensive work. But there is still more to do,” Hargis stated.
“We will review the ideas presented by the students as we continue to look for ways to improve. We remain committed to working with all Oklahoma State students to create a culture and environment that are welcoming to all and a model for others,” he added.
The Four Percent expects:
- OSU to “release a detailed outline of all events, budgets/financial plans, programs, initiatives, meeting minutes, meeting dates, etc. (including dates and descriptions) held or planning to be held to improve the current state of diversity on campus to the public.”
- the school create diversity training for all “students (grad and undergrad), teaching assistants, faculty and staff” as well as any student leaders of “Student Government Association, Residence Hall Association, Residential Life, Off-Campus Student Association, International Student Organization, Graduate & Professional Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council.”
- a “minority history and diversity library and lounge” for all students at Oklahoma State. They also requested that more faculty of color be hired, and that they be of diverse backgrounds and again, be diversity training certified.
- buildings with names of individuals that do not meet their criteria at OSU be “renamed to a worthier individual.”
- a meeting be held once a month with various campus leaders to “discuss this document and construct plans to enhance the cultural atmosphere at Oklahoma State University.”
“We suggest the use of prominent social activists of color that are better indications of the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” the group states in its letter.
Racist poster from 1866 – Library of Congress
