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THE “Akon Day” Party Sparks Campus Conversation Waterville Mayor THE PublishedC by the StudentsOLBY of Colby College since 1877 November 15, 2018 Volume CXXXXI, No.E 8 CHO Waterville, Maine Peter Brown | The Colby Echo Colby students gathered on Nov. 11 in the Spa for a silent, one hour sit -in, organized by the Pugh Center in response to the actions of students at the Nov. 3 “Akon Day” party in downtown Waterville. “Akon Day” party sparks campus conversation BY SONIA LACHTER ic Class.” These reports all or restorative capacity with Pavilion in silence for a to- McFadden wrote: “As curring theme of the dis- News Reporter read, “Students at an Akon Colby community members tal of 60 minutes,” the emails you likely know, at a re- cussion was the uncertainty Day party wore costumes who are named in BIPR re- reads. “We ask that allies cent off-campus costume of the whole situation. “We On Nov. 8 the Colby stu- that involved cultural appro- ports as having engaged in and everyone attending to party, some students may not have all the answers dent body received an email priation, referenced racial bias-related behaviors.” wear all black in solidarity. dressed in ways that were that you want today,” Bur- from the Student Govern- and ethnic stereotypes, and When asked what the BIPR During this time an email culturally appropriative rell-McRae said to students, ment Association (SGA) re- criminalizing black culture. team receives the most re- will be sent to Administra- and racially insensitive.” “we may not have any.” garding events that occured For example, students were ports about, Sasaki relayed tion demanding amend- She continued to ex- Later on during the panel, the weekend before. dressed in prison attire, had that, “BIPR receives reports ments to the student hand- plain that the College’s ad- Burrell-McRae revealed her “On the weekend of No- words like Africa and Gang about a wide range of be- book to add guidelines and ministrators, “have been dread of Halloween: “I had vember 2nd, 2018, a party written on their skin, and haviors that are perceived as protocols in regards to bias working closely with the sleepless nights the three was thrown in downtown wore hairstyles associated demonstrating identity-based incidents that specifically involved students this weeks leading up to Hallow- Waterville in celebration with black culture.” bias (including but not lim- target students of margin- week” and that “many peo- een because I knew this was of what is known as ‘Akon On Nov. 6, a report was ited to racism, homophobia, alized identities within the ple have come together going to happen.” Students Day,’’’ SGA stated in the filed under the “characteris- transphobia, antisemitism, Colby community.” to reaffirm our values of asked the administrators email. “At this party, white tic targeted” of “Race/Col- sexism, classism, xenophobia, Students also took to the diversity and inclusion.” present about what actions students chose to dress as or” which described that, “A ableism, etc) and causing per- internet to express their dis- McFadden wrote about her could be taken to address the ‘convicts’ in orange jump- group of students believed to sonal, interpersonal, and/or content with the participants work as an American Stud- participants of “Akon Day” suits, with big gold hoop be associated with the Akon community harm...we receive of “Akon Day” and Colby ies professor and the larger and the larger issues of bias earrings and big gold chains. Day party on 11/3 (see previ- quite a few reports of cultur- administration. Between cultural context of “Akon and racism against minori- Some also chose to write the ous BIPR reports) were con- al appropriation, particularly Nov. 8 and 19, five Civil Day” and related incidents. ties at Colby. “In this mo- word ‘AFRICA’ across their fronted by students who were around Halloween and Cinco Discourse posts addressing The email concludes with ment nothing has been done bodies and draw fake tears chanting Africa, staring at de Mayo.” Akon Day and its aftermath an acknowledgment of yet, I’m being very direct,” on their faces (a symbol them, and circling them.” As manifested by the BIPR on campus were posted, in- Colby’s increasing diver- Burrell-McRae responded to heavily related to gang cul- The BIPR team consists of reports following the “Akon cluding one which contained sity and the need to work one student. ture). There were also stu- seven administrators, three Day” party, which occured the link to a petition. Titled, towards inclusion. With regards to College dents who chanted ‘Africa, faculty members, three stu- the weekend after Hallow- “Demand that Colby College She then wrote, “we in- policies, and disciplining Africa, Africa,’ specifically dents, including one SGA een, this trend of increased Make Amendments to Stu- vite students to talk about participants in “Akon Day” in a hallway of the down- appointee, one Community cultural appropriation sur- dent Handbook On Bias Re- their concerns at a lunch or other instances of bias on town apartments. Due to Advisor appointee, and one rounding the holiday is lated Incidents,” the Change. discussion with senior staff campus, she said, “I don’t these events, students in the sports team captain appoin- noticeable to students and org petition has collected leaders tomorrow, Saturday, see how we’re going to get Colby community at wide, tee. Since the 2016-17 aca- faculty alike. SOBLU hosts 831 signatures at the time of November 10, at 11 a.m. in to that point based on where but specifically members of demic year, one of the fac- an event called “And Then this article’s publication. the Pugh Center.” As of pub- we are with our handbook.” the Black community, have ulty members of BIPR has Sh!t Got Real” annually. The The petition concludes lication, representatives of Despite the difficult po- been heavily impacted. This been Betty Sasaki, Associate event occurred on Nov. 7 this with the statement that,“Stu- the Pugh Center and of SGA sition of the administration is not an isolated incident. Professor of Spanish and As- year, just days after “Akon dents4Change is demand- had declined to comment on in dealing with this compli- Bias incidents that target sociate Dean of Diversity, Day.” As described in the ing Administration make this event. cated and deeply-entrenched marginalized identities have Equity, and Inclusion. Facebook event “And Then amendments to the student The event on Nov. 10 in the issue, Burrell-McRae told historically impacted the In an email to the Echo Sh!t Got Real,” “This is a handbook to add guidelines Pugh Center was attended by students present that, “I lives of students on campus.” about BIPR’s role on cam- chance for SOBLU members and protocols in regards to students as well as admin- couldn’t be more proud This email was one of pus in responding to the to share their experiences bias incidents that specifi- istrators Richard Y. Uchida, that...you participated in many student responses to “Akon Day” party, Sasaki on and off Colby’s campus cally target students of mar- Vice President and General civil disobedience.” the aforementioned “Akon wrote that, “To clarify, I in relation to race, ethnic- ginalized identities within Counsel and Secretary of the The consequences of the Day” party. The first record- want to note that BIPR is not ity, power, and privilege. It the Colby community. Sign College, Matthew T. Proto “Akon Day” party in the ed responses to the inci- a disciplinary body. BIPR’s will be a night of awkward, this petition in support of Vice President and Dean of days since the event occured dent can be seen in Colby’s primary role is to collect, hurtful, funny, and proud in- these amendments.” Admissions and Financial have revealed the compli- Bias Incident Prevention log…, and respond to bias stances of race relations.” Perhaps in light of the Aid, Karlene Burrell-McRae, cated relationship between and Response (BIPR) Bias incident reports submitted The next day, student re- strong student response to Dean of the College, and the student body and the Incident Log on the Colby by Colby students, faculty, sponses to “Akon Day” con- the “Akon Day” party on Douglas Terp, Vice President administration, students of website. Six separate reports and staff. Much of our re- tinued in an email circulated campus and online, students for Administration and Chief marginalized backgrounds were filed on Nov. 3 catego- sponse work is designed to which announced a sit-in for received an email from Pro- Financial Officer. and students of privileged rized under the “character- meet the needs of reporting the following afternoon. “On vost and Dean of Faculty Students and administra- backgrounds, and the ev- istic targeted” of “Ethnicity, parties and engage in an Nov 9th, 2018 at 12:00 PM, Margaret McFadden on Nov. tors participated in a back er-changing dynamic be- Race/Color, Socio-Econom- educational, remedial, and/ students will occupy Pulver 9. and forth discussion. A re- tween all of them. Waterville Mayor challenges election results BY ETHAN SCHULER & the municipal ballot, natures have been gath- PO boxes. our elections, as the in- students who cast ab- LOUISA GOLDMAN which proposed a city- ered to force a recount “The request for a re- tegrity of the process is sentee ballots and whose Echo Editors wide charge for plastic and based on quotes count was prompted by imperative to the protec- qualifications have been bags, passed with 3,052 from the Secretary of the discovery of many, tion of our democracy,” challenged, asking them On Tuesday, Oct. 13, people voting “yes” and State, it appears these many voter registrations Isgro said.
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