Student organizers pass USG bill calling for $240-per-student equity fee
Amy Nankin | Senior Staff Photographer
Les Griots Violets, a coalition of students, organizing around issues concerning Black students at Tulane, authored the equity fee legislation passed by USG.
October 29, 2019
Tonight, a resolution to establish an equity fee at Tulane University was passed by the Undergraduate Student Government.
The resolution, which passed 24-6 with one abstention, calls for a fee that would increase tuition by $240 per student to help fund areas on campus that are dedicated to supporting Black and other marginalized students.
The bill was authored by Les Griots Violets, a coalition of students organizing around issues concerning Black students at Tulane. Members of the coalition include graduate students Abi Mbaye and Kamiya Stewart as well as sophomores Paige Magee, Raven Ancar, Tabita Gnagniko and USG Senator Deja Wells.
“[Anti-Blackness] is the denying of Black people the right to exist,” Mbaye said. “We are currently sitting on land stolen from indigenous people cultivated by Black people. We have been here 400 years ago, we were here in 1968, we were here in 2015 in the Call for Unity and we are here now. Again. Fighting for the same rights in the same issues. That’s more than racism, that’s anti-Blackness.”
The fee would be split among various departments and offices: 24% would go to the Closing the Gap Fund, 22% to the Carolyn Barber-Pierre Center for Intercultural Life, 21% to the Equity Endowment Fund, 16% to the Center for Academic Equity, 6% to the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility, 4% to the Office of Gender & Sexual Diversity, 3% to the Chief Diversity Officer budget, 3% to the Office of Multicultural Affairs and 1% to the Medical School Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The legislation gives several examples of ways offices could use these funds, including offering fellowships and grants for tuition and study abroad at the Center for Academic Equity as well as providing increased pay for Community Engagement Advocates.
The $240 fee was based on the current fees in place for undergraduate students such as those that help fund the Reily Recreation Center and the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. The resolution also calls for the creation of an Equity Council comprised of 10 members to oversee the logistics of allocating the funds.
“We recognize that supporting diverse students is important. We will study this resolution and its potential impact on our student body,” Mike Strecker, Tulane executive director of public relations, said.
In his statement, Strecker pointed to university-wide diversity efforts including establishing and funding the Center for Academic Equity; expanding the Community Engagement Advocates program; providing additional faculty mentors; expanding space, programming and staffing levels for the Carolyn Barber-Pierre Center for Intercultural Life and hiring a new Chief Diversity Officer.
“While we have much, much more work to do, we are seeing progress,” Strecker said.
The legislation states that preliminary findings from an unofficial survey of Black students by Stewart found that 94% of those surveyed do not believe Black students feel like they belong at Tulane and 58% of those students would transfer from Tulane if they had the opportunity.
Members of the Senate asked the authors questions about the legislation in front of a large crowd of students who attended the meeting to show support for the passage of the legislation. During the student forum at the beginning of the night, students in the audience were given the chance to speak.
“I think that this legislation is critical because we have so much money in this school, and none of it gets touched by the student organizations that are marginalized here on campus and represent marginalized students,” senior Juju Worku said. “… There are some Black women who tirelessly organized and researched and put their hearts into writing a piece of legislation that attempts to rectify the historical wrongs of this university built on the backs of enslaved Black people.”
After a motion to table the voting of the legislation to the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committee, the Student Life Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee, members of the crowd protested the delaying of the bill. Following the uproar, the legislation was voted on and passed.
“I’m really glad that students who are marginalized were able to utilize USG to pass this extremely important piece of legislation,” USG president Joseph Sotile said. “The work obviously doesn’t stop here, and I am looking forward to working with the women who presented tonight to make sure that these departments and organizations get the funding that they need to operate at their fullest potential.”
The authors said that the leadership at Tulane has attempted to increase the amount of equity and diversity of the student body, yet there is a lack of funding to support the growing population of diverse students they aim to accept.
“Thank you, thank you all so much for being on the right side of history and starting the revolution with us,” Mbaye told the crowd.
Anonymous • Dec 23, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Coming from a student and member of a minority community that would potentially benefit from this fee: It disappoints me that my family would be additionally burdened like this and that we would approach such an important issue with such haphazard policy design. My community historically averages a lower household income than that of white households. Not saying that it would definitely be easier for white households to pay an extra 240, but I am saying that, on average, a tax like this would most likely hurt families like mine that fit the average household income bracket for my demographic, families that this fee proposes to help. Why tax students like us instead of urging the University to better allocate its resources and reevaluate the attention that it pays to minority groups. We can do this, and we should, but in a better way.
Anonymous • Dec 11, 2019 at 2:06 pm
I think the goal of increasing diversity on campus is great. I think the goal of supporting marginalized students is great. However what this legislation and fees forgets is that not every student at Tulane comes from a family where paying this increase is easy. We already pay $5000 in fees to the university. Many of us struggle to pay the tuition, room and board, fees, books to send our kids there. Like many middle class families, we make too much for financial aid and not enough to send our kids to college. I am fully aware of my white privilege. I do not deny it or the opportunity the color of my skin, which is frankly a happenstance of birth, not something I earned, affords me and my children. That being said, my child killed themselves in high school to earn merit money so they could attend college. While they had the stats to apply to Ivy’s , they couldn’t because there was no universe in which we could afford to pay for them. Tulane offered a good merit scholarship, we tightened our finances yet again, and are making it work but it’s difficult. To give you some context, that fee is the equivalent to my grocery budget for an entire week to feed a family of 5. It’s not nothing to many of us who are just getting by. Assuming that all Tulane students have the means to pay extra fees is also classist and elitist. Some of us don’t. While I think this is a worthwhile endeavor, they should have petitioned the school to increase funding, not done an end run around the university on the backs of some students for whom this will present a hardship. And before you say that a minimum extra $2000 over the course of 4 years is nothing, when that has to be funded with a student loan, particularly an unsubsidized loan that accrues interest right from the start that $2000 quickly becomes much much more.
Jennifer • Dec 11, 2019 at 10:43 am
What about the poor students that families are barely making it. I know an extra $240 doesn’t sound like much. It is when all of the extra family money is going to tulane so that a dream can come true. I want everyone included in this wonderful campus but adding fees is not the answer!
Genna • Nov 18, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Well done Tulane USG and Les Griots Violets! A step in the right direction and very much needed at Tulane.
Scott Albritton • Nov 11, 2019 at 9:14 am
I have a friend of mine who’s son wanted to go to Tulane. So as soon as he graduated high school, he went to work as a laborer for a Construction Company, He lived in a 500 square foot apartment, saved 1500.00 a month for 5 years, with interest he paid his way into Tulane and graduated in engineering. Just saying, if you want it bad enough, no matter the color of your skin, you can do it. This is just another fee to promote a political stance, IMO.
Bob Scully • Nov 9, 2019 at 1:18 pm
So Tulane claims to embrace diversity. I wonder how many Republican professors they have in their sociology department.
V. LeBlanc • Nov 9, 2019 at 10:02 am
To Zahra Saifudeen:
Why is it always assumed that every single white person has roots responsible for every ungodly occurrence regarding minority groups? Isn’t that what defines a stereotype? My grandparents fled Germany for America during WW2 to escape the cruel reality of Hilter’s mass murdering rampage. My ancestors had absolutely nothing to do with the “murder and brutalization of indigenous and Black people” nor did they ever condone it or raise their children to. I personally find it offensive to be categorized and judged in this way only because I’m a Caucasian. I wish people such as yourself would be able to differentiate the good ones from the bad instead of throwing us under the same umbrella just because of race. Please do your research and maybe you’ll find that, like the minorities, we too come from different backgrounds not responsible for this brutality you speak of. God bless.
Jennifer W. • Nov 9, 2019 at 9:23 am
At first glance, I thought this was fake news about a group of girls representing some female version of the Black Panthers or something by how their fists are raised in the photo, but it’s not a spoof. I wonder … Are all undergraduates subjected to this fee or is it just the individuals the Violets don’t consider a minority? It’s sad to think, but it seems this younger generation (my generation) is becoming more and more fueled by hate and the pot of politically correctness is boiling out of control. Throughout history there was always some group of people getting s#%* on. I personally feel what happened during the Holocaust should get more attention then it does today because the intentional mass murder of 6,000,000+ Jews or feeding the Christians to the lions solely because of their religious beliefs seems a lot more horrific then a student feeling uncomfortable in their own skin at Tulane, but I hear Tulane life can get rough.
Dee Rozas • Nov 8, 2019 at 8:59 pm
This is THE most racist proposal I’ve ever heard of and it’s based on faulty premises. If these students who wrote this proposed change to Tulane’s billing policies are upset with the program cuts, they should protest it with the administration. But if they want to propose an increase in student bills to cover shortages in program cuts, then all students across the board must pay any increase in fees. Any exclusion of one race or applying fees to one race only to benefit programs for another is ILLEGAL and known as discrimination based on race!!! How can anyone not see this is putting lipstick on a pig!!!
Denise Rozas • Nov 8, 2019 at 8:38 pm
This is THE most racist proposal I’ve ever heard of and it’s based on faulty premises. If these students who wrote this proposed change to Tulane’s billing policies are upset with the program cuts, they should protest it with the administration. But if they want to propose an increase in student bills to cover shortages in program cuts, then all students across the board must pay any increase in fees. Any exclusion of one race or applying fees to one race only to benefit programs for another is ILLEGAL and known as discrimination based on race!!! How can anyone not see this is putting lipstick on a pig!!!
Keylee • Nov 8, 2019 at 8:03 pm
Phillip Chatham
You already received your student subsidy. It was called the GI bill.
Fabiani Baez • Nov 8, 2019 at 7:50 pm
History of White affirmative action.
1607 First permanent English colony in Virginia.
1680’s Virginia House of Burgess argues who is a “white man.”
1690’s Virginia House of Burgess defines “white man”.
1705 Virginia law passed requiring masters to provide white servants whose indentured time was up 50 acres of land, 30 shillings, a musket and 10 bushels of corn.
1776 The Declaration of Independence is signed, stating that “all men are created equal . . . with certain inalienable rights . . . Life, Liberty and the oppression in the U.S. pursuit of Happiness” while excluding Africans, Native Americans, and all women.
1785 Land Ordinance Act, 640 acres offered at $1 per acre to white people
1790 Naturalization Law of 1790 specifies that only free white immigrants are eligible for naturalized citizenship. First generation immigrants from Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South American and Africa are expressly denied civil rights, the right to vote, and the right to own land. This Act is not completely wiped off the books until the McCarran Walter Act of 1952.
1800 the Land ordinance Act minimum lot was halved to 320 Acres
1850 Foreign Miners Tax in California requires Chinese and Latin American gold miners to pay a special tax on their holdings not required of European American miners.
1854 California law (People v. Hall) – “No black, or mulatto person, or Indian shall be allowed to give evidence for or against a white person.”
1862 Homestead Act allots 160 acres of western (i.e. Indian) land to “anyone” who could pay $1.25 an acre and cultivate it for 5 years; within 10 years, 85,000,000 acres of Indian lands had been sold to European homesteaders.
1896 Supreme Court declares in Plessy v. Ferguson that separate but “equal” facilities are constitutional.
1933 New Deal legislation, Home Owners Loan Corporation created to helphome owners and stabilize banks, created detailed neighborhood maps that took into account the racial composition of a neighborhood or likelihood of racial infiltration, color coded these, neighborhoods in red and labeled them “undesirable” resulting in a lack of investment in neighborhoods with POC and enormous investment in white neighborhoods
1934 The FHA manuals and practices codify the channeling of funds to white neighborhoods and collaborated with block busters
1935 The Social Security Act, new deal programs would not have survived the Southern voting block unless they were designed in a way that preserved racial patterns. SSA did not extend coverage to farm or domestic workers, a much higher percentage of blac workers were not covered
2009-2014 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Obama passed this act that gave 4,497 loans (a total of $800 billion) to firms across the US. 3% went to Hispanic/Asian owned firms. 1.5% went to Black owned firms. And 95.5% went to White owned firms.
Grow Up • Nov 8, 2019 at 2:56 pm
@ Zahra Saifudeen, you lose every ounce of credibility when painting with such a broad stroke. Maybe it’s time to look in the mirror and judge the person looking back at you.
Phillip Chatham • Nov 8, 2019 at 2:11 pm
So as a marginalized veteran graduate student who relied on GI Bill to attend such a prestigious academic organization when should I receive my student subsidy that will help me pay any dues owed?
This is the single most preposterous, racist and ridiculous article I’ve read concerning Tulane to date.
John • Nov 8, 2019 at 12:46 pm
This is insane. We or our families pay for us to attend college and get an education. I refuse to pay for someone else’s child. Tuition is high enough now. You want to pay for someone’s education based on race, then go to the government. I will not contribute based on race.
Kamryn Dumas • Nov 7, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Hi , I’m a black student that is in 8th grade . Tulane did right putting this law in . One of them up there is my cousin. For all Caucasian people: you are upset because you didn’t think of it first . Black people have minds too. So respect the knowledge we have. Back then our ancestors couldn’t read or write because they were slaves. That’s when Caucasian people had the spotlight , give black people a chance! There is no such thing as racism towards Caucasian people. These young girls weren’t scared they used their voices unlike others. Black people are rising so please give us this respect because we do not get much of it. Thank you !
SB • Nov 7, 2019 at 4:34 am
A resolution against Anti-Blackness, which is “the denying of black people the right to exist,” drafted by black Tulane students who clearly exist on the campus of Tulane (and who were admitted to Tulane and who, like most students of all races, probably receive scholarship funds from Tulane).
And what’s with the “unofficial survey” finding that 58% of black students would transfer from Tulane if they had the opportunity? There are at least six other universities in New Orleans alone, each of which is less selective and less expensive than Tulane. Moreover, in order to get into Tulane, one must have a pretty good academic record. Any of the students who would transfer “if they had the opportunity” could get into a peer institution that doesn’t deny black people “the right to exist.”
I’m sure there’s merit to the proposal to increase fees to cover some of the funding for these programs that were cut, but the rhetoric is absolutely absurd.
Larry Masters • Nov 6, 2019 at 3:18 pm
We should base decisions on evidence. Tulane (and by consequence the tuition payers and the school contributors) have spent untold money to reverse the wrongs of racial discrimination. This includes actively recruiting minorities, providing financial assistance, and providing support for students (both academically and socially) to help them succeed and insure they feel welcome. Based on the survey cited in the text of the story, these efforts have failed. (Actually, I think the survey is suspect and that many minorities have had positive and meaningful experiences at Tulane). Regardless of whether you think that Tulane’s efforts have succeeded or failed, there is ZERO chance that a $240 fee will make a meaningful positive difference (it has a 100% chance of making a negative difference as the comments have already shown.)
Ragina • Nov 6, 2019 at 3:00 pm
We are a nation trying to fight racism with racism and because of this we will continue to chase our tails and nothing will change.
Melissa • Nov 6, 2019 at 2:21 am
This fee is divisive and more of a political statement. Making it mandatory feels like compelled speech.
And how much will it really help bring in more minorities. Whatever the fee pays for is a pittance compared to getting into, and paying for university.
Anonymous • Nov 5, 2019 at 1:48 pm
There are several issues with this idea.
Chief among them: the unfortunate truth of this is that it ultimately will do more harm than good to those it is designed to empower.
Let’s consider what this does, literally number by number. If this is a per-semester or even per-year fee, this becomes either an additional $480 per year for a student, stretched over 4 years to become $1,920…
If someone is at Tulane without any scholarship, or even small scholarships plus student work etc. and is paying this by loan, that amount will accrue MASSIVE amounts of interest. Over decades of paying it back, it could increase by factors of 10…
Now, tell me that no one, or even a small portion of marginalized groups would not be hugely negatively impacted by this financial burden? What good does this do for a young man or woman who is neither so well positioned to get a scholarship nor wealthy enough to offset these costs? This completely dis-incentivizes that student from coming here.
This even refrains from addressing the questionable ethical position for which it stands- that every subsequent generation of any group should pay some amount of reparation to every minority group to follow. What society does that scale to? What happens when that situation flips from any given racial or ethnic group to another? Does this really help race relations in the long run by making it THE most important factor for how we judge each other? Would love to hear the authors’ response to this, although they are not expected.
Thanks.
Rick • Nov 4, 2019 at 8:18 pm
As a parent/alum who struggles to pay the current tuition, I will strongly consider a move for my child should such a fee actually be assessed. If student gov’t wants a budget for special interests such as this, lobby for it to to be allocated out of the university general fund or other bloated sub-accounts. I will pay no more. Tulane tuition is higher than Harvard, etc. Remember, students are there to get an education, not to bankrupt their families.
Sophie • Nov 4, 2019 at 4:04 pm
With all of the racist, anti-white, rhetoric being irresponsibly volleyed about, my real beef is with Tulane.
I am sure that Tulane weighed the benefits of these equity programs against other student needs and ultimately reduced funding to accommodate the needs of the larger student body. Tulane clearly did not find enough value in these programs to fund them at their prior levels.
Tulane: If you do not find enough value in these programs, then why ask us to pay for them? I’m not saying it useless. I am saying that if we’re agreed to raise tuition, then why increase it for these programs as opposed to increased funding for jewish student groups, or catholic student groups, or programs promoting mental wellness, or any of the myriad special interests. All of these groups could present a solid case for increased funding. So is it the loudest groups that drive up our fees? Student groups, take notes.
Larry Masters • Nov 4, 2019 at 11:22 am
Nothing shows greater courage than passing a resolution to take other people’s money and make it your own. Of course there is zero evidence that this resolution would make any difference at all if enacted.
I would be curious to see the actual raw data, questions, and sampling technique on the survey that spurred this controversy. My guess is that it will not hold up to scrutiny.
Gordon • Nov 4, 2019 at 5:51 am
I am so glad I graduated from college a long time ago & that I can afford to send my children to a real university. These morons are total losers and I don’t want my children associating with them.
Don Lewis • Nov 2, 2019 at 11:53 pm
To those in this thread who speak about and state grievances about “white people” collectively, you demonstrate a profound ignorance of the diversity of historical experience or else refuse to acknowledge individual responsibility for our decisions and actions. I thought we had gotten beyond stereotyping and treating people according to race in this country. I guess “color blind” applies to other people.
Williams • Nov 2, 2019 at 3:50 pm
Will this fee be covered by students who get full merit and/or need-based scholarships? Students who come to Tulane from very low-socioeconomic class benefit greatly and are able to have a chance at economic mobility because of Tulane’s generous scholarships. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds at Tulane are come in every color. While economic class does not signify diversity, I believe perhaps it should be considered in an equity bill.
Ivy A. • Nov 2, 2019 at 10:35 am
For the people who are upset about the cost of the fee, channel all that anger to Tulane and not to the bill. Did you stop to wonder why this bill had to be created? Tulane has cut funding to many of the resources that support marginalized students. This bill had to be created out of self-preservation and a realization that if Tulane wouldn’t sustainably support equity we must take it upon ourselves to do so. So for those who think it’s outrageous call out Tulane, email Presidents Fitts and ask him why he won’t use the millions of dollars the university has to support marginalized students (especially in a sustainable, needed, and greater than what’s already happening way). At least then your racism won’t be showing as much 🙂
Sophie • Nov 1, 2019 at 9:54 pm
Way to bring together the community Tulane. :/
In this very thread -SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN- Zahra Saifudeen claims I have exploited, terrorized, and murdered black people.
“To all the white people: It’s so funny how uncomfortable you all are with doing anything tangibly beneficial for Black people, the people you exploited and terrorized and murdered.” -Zahra Saifudeen
ONLY THE AUDACIOUS!
Alex • Nov 1, 2019 at 11:50 am
While this is supporting different minorities, the elgeslation does not support diverse religious student groups and does not give money to support jewish student groups on campus and israel groups
Marie V • Oct 31, 2019 at 8:31 pm
@Zahra – you don’t have to break a thing to me. I’m fully aware of what society drives as core values and beliefs. You keep trying to convince yourself otherwise (or the others who foolishly believe this is for an ‘entire underserved population at Tulane’.
Good luck
Brent • Oct 31, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Can’t believe you support this racist fee.
Zahra Saifudeen • Oct 31, 2019 at 5:03 pm
@Marie V: I hate to break it to you, but our entire society is based on race. Our entire society is based on the murder and brutalization of indigenous and Black people. This is still happening. TODAY. IN 2019. This equity fee recognizes this often erased history and our current reality, and is establishing a sustainable way to mend the gaps that were created as a result of the violence perpetuated onto indigenous and Black bodies. Anyone who is at Tulane benefits from this violence, and paying this money is the least one can do.
James • Oct 31, 2019 at 2:53 pm
@ Richard Freeman
For reference, all students pay a student activities fee. The College Republican organization is supported by that fee, so yes they are already supported by a fee that everyone at the undergraduate level pays.
@Cindy
The members within the crowd are the constituents of the senators within the room. There were 6 senators that voted no. There was an opportunity there for senators to vote no, or even request an unmoderated caucus that would have allowed for a discussion on the Senate floor. That was one of the most democratic processes that has occurred within USG’s 20-year existence.
Ron • Oct 31, 2019 at 2:47 pm
I’m a black male and earned a graduate degree in May 19. I’ve noticed many things but I’m a bit older and being a retired service member allows me to see past things. I can conclude that Tulane really has tried to confront it’s diversity issues. The place is expensive. That alone will keep certain groups out. So there’s a high probability that we won’t see the true demographic that New Orleans actually reflects. I’m from here and I said to myself I want a degree from Tulane or Loyola as a personal goal. I knew for a fact that I may not fit in socially with the institution. My son’s mom told me and this is reflective of other blacks…”Don’t go there trying to change the way Tulane does business. You knew how they operated before signing up. So you can’t be mad about anything.” Honestly, I enjoyed my time there. I’m proud that I was able to accomplish my personal goal. They always have interesting speakers from all walks of life. Tulane is a free spirited campus. I believe more can be done but what we see at Tulane as blacks is what we will see in high echelon levels of employment.
Maria H. • Oct 31, 2019 at 1:34 pm
This is racism against white people
JVC • Oct 31, 2019 at 1:28 pm
@ Zahra – that’s a really uncalled for response. If the root of this is to support the ‘unsupported’ communities at Tulane as referenced by many people above, why are you turning it into a black vs white argument? And your accusations are pretty severe (murder…. really?). Really many of the respondants are speaking a double standard claiming this isn’t a racial situation yet cite black or white in the comments to allude to that.
I personally have no problem with the support. What I DO have a problem with has been stated multiple times already – Tulane is very expensive. I do not (personally) have the luxury of increased fees that continue to come my way. I even got hit with an unexpected and uncommunicated $2400 fee from my students program (yes, TWENTY FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS).
Tulane has run back to back “successful” (in their terms) fundraising campaigns and raised the most ever, current year. They built a $50M building/dining facility and are tearing down Bruff to build new dorms. President Fitts travels internationally often to recruit students (that attend Tulane tuition free).
Bottom line is, there is money available to fund services for all to benefit from that get cut. Why impose another tax vs using what is available?
Corbin • Oct 31, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Marie V,
I hear you on what you are trying to say but you need to realize something.
Tulane is not offering up proper funding to key programs centered around the diversity Tulane is saying we have. Tulane only uses money in ways that will get students to come and with the agendas of the donors. Donor funding is not substainable. By initiating this fee, we are funding the future of a more equitable Tulane that will actually last. If you are uncomfortable around having a fee associated with uplifting marginalized communties on Tulane’s campus look at the privileges you hold and understand that these communities do not have them.
Delaney B. • Oct 31, 2019 at 12:42 pm
To every uninformed person commenting on this bill—this piece of legislation that USG (Undergraduate Student Government) passed is a resolution, meaning that we urged the university to do this. This should be clear, however it is apparently not, so I will point out that we do not have the power to implement this fee; we, alone, do not make those decisions. This piece of legislation will next to to graduate senate, and then University Senate where faculty and administration will look over the bill. Ultimately, whether or not this is implemented is NOT the decision of USG, it is the decision of administration and those in charge of tuition and fees. What we CAN do, however, is support these wonderful ladies in their cause and do our best to not get in their way. In the end, if this is implemented, it will likely look different than the exact bill that we passed in Senate. However, I was happy to put our name behind the cause, and at the day, it’s only truly symbolic. It’s up to the university to be on the right side of history now. Do your best to inform yourself before commenting ugly, ugly things.
Jill Peters • Oct 31, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Ditto
To Griffin Daly……
I pay $180 a semester for the gym and my son has used it because he can.
I pay $320 a semester for Student Health Services and my son has used it because he can.
I pay $120 a semester for student organizations and my son can get involved if he wants to.
This $240 will be used for services and organizations that my son is precluded from utilizing because he is white. That is discriminatory by its very nature!
Does this mean that I can expect a fee coming to support Republicans since they are the minority political party on campus??
Every other fee is completely inclusive regardless of race, creed, religion or political affiliation….THIS FEE IS NOT AND CAN BE LEGALLY CHALLENGED.
Your argument is false because your premise is false!
Corbin • Oct 31, 2019 at 12:12 pm
To Cindy, I was actually at this Senate meeting and here is what happend.
A Senator motioned to table the issue to the DIEC, SLC, and AA. The DIEC then made the point that it does not need to go back to them when they already support the bill.
They were first going to do a clicker vote, but then EVP Gaines stepped in and noted that since this was a procedural matter it would have to be a placard vote. The Senator then rescinded their motion. After this was rescinded, Students-at-Large did cheer. The Senate voted via clickers on this legislation and it passed.
This is what democracy looks like since Tulane Senate voted and it passed. You can see the statistics through the Tulane USG Website. The incredible authors conferred with many people on this critical piece of legislation and it is well written and thought-out. I recommend reading it for yourself.
Zahra Saifudeen • Oct 31, 2019 at 12:11 pm
To all the white people: It’s so funny how uncomfortable you all are with doing anything tangibly beneficial for Black people, the people you exploited and terrorized and murdered. If you and/or your child fail to understand the nature of this fee, I urge you to reconsider sending your child here, as they are are unable to confront racism and anti-blackness. Just like their parents and all their ancestors before them.
Zahra Saifudeen • Oct 31, 2019 at 12:10 pm
To all the white people: It’s so funny how uncomfortable you all are with doing anything tangibly beneficial for Black people, the people you exploited and terrorized and murdered. I must echo Griffin Daly’s statement: “Do you dread the redistribution of the prestige and the social power that accompanies an elite institution’s education?” If you and/or your child fail to understand the nature of this fee, I urge you to reconsider sending your child here, as they are are unable to confront racism and anti-blackness. Just like their parents and all their ancestors before them.
Marie V • Oct 31, 2019 at 11:55 am
Again- this is a racial debate
Maybe the students “kids” who vote with their parents dollars need to start paying their own tuition.
Well done TuLane – another revenue stream for you
Kennon S • Oct 31, 2019 at 11:51 am
If this legislation is making you reconsider sending your child to Tulane then PLEASE don’t send them. It’s hard enough signing up for classes as it is without them taking up spots and you could save us both some trouble.
Griffin Daly • Oct 31, 2019 at 11:04 am
Richard Freeman, your white son is absolutely more than welcome to take advantage of the services and programs this fee will support. He can grab some free food at Wednesday’s at the O and learn about the experiences of his classmates of color. He can participate in a Community Engagement Advocate facilitation, expanding his horizons in a conversation about community service, justice, and identity. He can go to any of the wonderful lectures put on by the OGSD and the O—even if he disagrees with what’s being said, a helpful part of the intellectual and cultural growth of university is at least listening to perspectives different than yours and taking some time to reflect on them. It’s a critical learning process and basic level of social understanding, and a level of intellectual and ethical development I’m quite worried you haven’t attained 🙁
Cindy • Oct 31, 2019 at 10:33 am
“After a motion to table the voting of the legislation to the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committee, the Student Life Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee, members of the crowd protested the delaying of the bill. Following the uproar, the legislation was voted on and passed. ”
This is NOT what democracy should look like! Before adding almost $2 Million to the budget they should be allowed to confer with other vested committees.
Marie V • Oct 31, 2019 at 10:01 am
I don’t care who it serves – I’m tired of the incremental costs. And for reference, even by pointing out all of the groups it “may” support, the context around it all is still race
F. Bell • Oct 31, 2019 at 1:42 am
This is what democracy looks like.
Billy M • Oct 30, 2019 at 11:59 pm
It appears that most of the comments that are critiques of the Equity Fee are focusing on race. I’m here to educate the people who can’t move beyond race… The Equity Fee aims to help ALL students who use services from the following centers: The Carolyn Barber Pierre Center for Intercultural Life which includes The Office of Multicultural Affairs, Religious Life at Tulane, and The Office of Gender and Sexual Diversity; The Center for Academic Equity; The Goldman Center for Student Accessibility; and The Community Engagement Advocacy Program; and so on. All students use services from at least one of the previously named centers. Therefore, the Equity Fee will be helping ALL students… Let me clarify another thing, based on the demographics of Tulane (a primarily White institution), most of the marginalized students are WHITE. So most of the students who use the Goldman Center are white, most of the students who identify as LGBT+ are white, most of the religious community on campus is white, most of the low SES students are white, and most of the students who will receive service learning training are white. By not supporting the Equity Fee, it is not only a disservice to Black students and students of color but also to white students. Race is a completely important factor in the fee because of America and New Orleans’ histories, however, opposing the fee because of race is ignorant and this ignorance is a disservice to ALL Tulane students, including white students.
Richard Freeman • Oct 30, 2019 at 10:06 pm
To Griffin Daly……
I pay $180 a semester for the gym and my son has used it because he can.
I pay $320 a semester for Student Health Services and my son has used it because he can.
I pay $120 a semester for student organizations and my son can get involved if he wants to.
This $240 will be used for services and organizations that my son is precluded from utilizing because he is white. That is discriminatory by its very nature!
Does this mean that I can expect a fee coming to support Republicans since they are the minority political party on campus??
Every other fee is completely inclusive regardless of race, creed, religion or political affiliation….THIS FEE IS NOT AND CAN BE LEGALLY CHALLENGED.
Your argument is false because your premise is false!
Student Parent • Oct 30, 2019 at 9:24 pm
I’m furious with the continuous increases and onset of fees regardless of who it serves. Elitist? Hardly. Hell I lost my job this year and Tulane wouldn’t help my student $1 but I have to now cough up another $240?
Enough is enough
Bill • Oct 30, 2019 at 6:25 pm
The Cultural Marxists have invaded Tulane, and the brainwashed students welcome their programs with open arms. Shameful.
Griffin Daly • Oct 30, 2019 at 5:15 pm
To all the furious parents in the comments:
You pay $180 a semester for the gym, even if your child never once works out.
You pay $320 a semester towards Campus Health, even if your child never once needs to see a doctor at school.
You pay $120 to support student organizations, even if you’re child never joins one.
What’s another $240 for programming and resources supporting marginalized students and students in need? Do some deep reflection—do you really care about the money? Or do you dread the redistribution of the prestige and the social power that accompanies an elite institution’s education?
Sydney T • Oct 30, 2019 at 3:39 pm
This is the first time I have ever been able to say that I am proud of Tulane University. This bill is the first step to ensuring actual diversity on campus, they’ve taken too dang long to support and uplift black and brown voices, LGBTQ voices, and poor voices. Tulane has made its money off of the tokenization of these communities while also ensuring that members of marginalized groups have no visibility on campus as well as no voice. This bill quite frankly isn’t enough to address the numerous years of anti-black, anti-queer, and anti-poor rhetoric this institution has upheld and continues to uphold, but it is a great start! Roll Wave, let’s keep this momentum going! So proud of the folks behind this bill and the people who voted to pass it!
Antonia • Oct 30, 2019 at 3:04 pm
I’m so happy to see something like this go through! These organizations recieving funding are so pivotal to my well-being and the social environment on tulanes campus. And I’m glad that the $240 reflects a fee that many students pay as lab fees or any other add-on that Tulane puts in our bills anyway. At least this will actually help poor/gay/black&brown people to survive and thrive here as they should be! Especially since Tulane talks all that talk about “diversity” without actually finding services that keep their “diverse” student population sane. Yay!!!
Kyu Min • Oct 30, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Supporting minority students and closing the gap not just benefits students of color but also benefits white students’ college experience. Tulane now is so visibly, strikingly white in the city where the black population is majority. This uniformity narrows students’ experience/skills to work and learn with the diverse population they will face in their workplaces and communities. The equity fee will push Tulane to fix this deficit.
Jennie B • Oct 30, 2019 at 1:46 pm
The point of the petition is to boost marginalize students on campus, in American and in Tulane black and native people are the most marginalized communities and therefore we have the responsibility to better serve and support them. Tulane has already cut the funding of programs such as the center for multicultural life, the office for gender and sexual diversity, and the center for academic equity so as an institution they are not support these communities. THE MONEY PROVIDED BY THIS FEE WILL GO
TO ALL OF THESE OFFICES WHICH SERVE ALL UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES ON THIS CAMPUS. So maybe you should read the legislation. The point of this Legislation is to help all student who are systematically discriminated against on this campus. As a white person we operate in a institution that was built for us and for our benefit and to change this we need to Structurally shift Tulane. By providing an equity fee we can have a substantive way to make sure that we can financially support these communities and that the money is going to these communities.
evab • Oct 30, 2019 at 1:39 pm
Les Griots Violets were phenomenal last night! S/O to all the authors of the legislation for the tremendous amounts of passion and effort put into making the document as detailed as it was. THIS is the definition of what it means to be audacious at Tulane. cannot wait to show up for y’all every step of the process, and I know I am not the only one who feels this way.
and can all y’all parents do a little more than just reading the headline before you comment? Ok thanks
evab • Oct 30, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Les Griots Violets were phenomenal (!) last night!! s/o to all the authors of the legislation for putting in such tremendous amounts of passion and effort in making the document as detailed as it was. THIS and only this is what it means to be audacious at Tulane!! keep on keeping on ladies, cannot wait to show up for y’all in every step you make.
Jackie • Oct 30, 2019 at 12:50 pm
In addition to the $76k already being paid? Who’s helping my son?……
Not paying it
John • Oct 30, 2019 at 10:14 am
I already spend A LOT of money sending my child to Tulane. Charging me an additional fee that will benefit only non-white students is treading on dangerous ground. My child and I will be reevaluating the decision to attend Tulane.