Temple Student Government President Bryan Carter recapped Sunday’s student protest against the decreasing enrollment of minorities at Temple. Protesters marched from the Liacouras Center to Rittenhouse Square, blocking major intersections along the way.
Carter called the rally “a big success.” As part of his weekly report, Carter fielded questions and comments from the general assembly about their opinions of Sunday’s protest. He also addressed the fact that TSG had received e-mails of dissent about the protest from some members of the student body.
One letter read to the general assembly expressed anger at the protesters and claimed that the university is “diverse enough.” The letter’s author did not feel that Temple should lower its standards to accept more minorities into its institution.
In addition, some general assembly members questioned the tactics of the protesters. One member saw a contradiction in the protesters exercising their rights to protest, but also infringing on the rights of others who had nothing to do with the protest, like open house guests and SEPTA bus riders who were stalled after streets were blocked by students.
On the other hand, Carter reiterated that the point of any protest rally is to get attention at any means necessary.
“We wanted everyone to know,” Carter said.
Meanwhile, Carter is working on a 10-page proposal titled “Addressing the Diversity Question at Temple University” that will ask for an increase in the number of international and minority students so no ethnic group will represent a majority of the student body on campus.
Furthermore, TSG elections commissioner Denica Beaton announced the slates for upcoming elections in April. Naeem Thompson will run for student body president; Sarah Baker for Vice President for Academic Affairs; Charles Postell for Vice President for Student Affairs under the “Bell Tower Resurgence;” while Oscar Chow, Joann Noel and Kyle Kelly will run for the same positions under “Temple United.”
Charmie Snetter can be reached at snett77@temple.edu.
Be the first to comment