A #freeISU student hunger strike ended hours after it started Wednesday when protesters learned that Indiana State University plans to implement mandatory diversity training next fall for new students as well as University College faculty, staff and student workers.
University College works with first-year students.
Those involved with #freeISU are concerned about campus climate and believe the campus is not as inclusive and welcoming as it needs to be for its increasingly diverse student body.
Three students, Katrina Tunstall, Ashley Robinson and Shay Allen-Johnson, had begun the hunger strike Wednesday morning, but after learning of the late-afternoon development — the announcement of mandatory diversity training — the hunger strike was called off, said Lakisha Johnson, an ISU senior, spokeswoman for #freeISU and Shay’s mother.
An ISU employee also participated in the hunger strike to show support for the students.
“I feel very good about what President Bradley has brought forth” related to the diversity training, Lakisha Johnson said. “So at this point, with that new development, we have called off the hunger strike.”
If what Bradley presented does not come to fruition, then the group will re-evaluate its next steps, including possibly having a lengthier hunger strike. But at this time, “We’re very happy about the progress,” Johnson said Wednesday evening.
She hopes for continued dialogue between #freeISU and university leaders — including Bradley — “to move forward into the positive direction we know this university can attain.”
#freeISU previously started a petition drive that outlines steps they believe the university should take to improve the campus climate for diverse groups; they emphasize it encompasses not just black students, but others who may feel marginalized including Latinos, international and LGBT students.
Although no meeting had been planned early Wednesday morning, a group of students and employees went to President Bradley’s office in Parsons Hall and waited in the hall. When Bradley arrived, he invited them into his office and spoke with the group of about 15.
In an earlier interview Wednesday, Johnson said the president “was resistant to our concerns.”
According to Shay Allen-Johnson, those participating in the hunger strike had two major concerns they wanted addressed:
• Mandatory diversity training similar to the university’s “It’s on Blue,” a comprehensive sexual violence prevention and education initiative that includes mandatory online training for undergraduates and employees.
• A vice president for equity and inclusion who reports directly to the president and focuses on diversity issues. The group has also talked about re-establishment of the Office of Diversity.
Allen-Johnson indicated that the group would be prepared to call off the hunger strike if the university would agree to provide diversity training similar to “It’s on Blue.”
In a mid-afternoon interview Wednesday, Bradley acknowledged he did invite the visitors into his office, although no meeting had been scheduled. He suggested they meet again Nov. 30 — ISU is on break during the Thanksgiving week.
There was no discussion of a hunger strike, which he found out about around noon. “That was a surprise to me,” Bradley said.
During an interview with the Tribune-Star, Bradley stated that he “just got word this afternoon” that University College — which serves primarily first-year students — will require diversity training for faculty who teach in the college as well as University College staff and student workers, effective next fall. New ISU students also will have mandatory diversity training, again, effective next fall.
Next semester, the university plans to survey students on campus climate with regard to diversity; it also wants to engage people “in helping us come up with tactics that can make things better,” Bradley said.
Bradley does disagree with #freeISU in their demand for a vice president for equity. “We’ve had in the past people at senior levels involved with diversity and inclusion issues and have not seen the impact,” he said. In recent changes, ISU went from one person in the Office of Diversity two full-time people — Elonda Ervin in student affairs and Nolan Davis in academic affairs.
Ervin will focus on diversity as it relates to students, while Davis will help ISU improve efforts to recruit/retain minority faculty. “We need that expertise really where the work gets done and it gets done at the division level, not the campus level,” Bradley said.
Bradley noted that over the last seven years, ISU has had a 30 percent increase in students overall, while the number of African American students has increased 70 percent.
Asked about the #freeISU movement at Indiana State, Bradley suggested that some or all of the students involved have had bad experiences they are unhappy about. Looking at the broader national picture, he pointed to some of the violent experiences young people have had with police — incidents that have garnered much attention over the past year.
He also believes what has been going on at the University of Missouri “is undoubtedly connected.”
He noted that ISU has doubled the number of African-American and Hispanic faculty over the last seven years; it had 20 minority faculty seven years ago and it has 40 today. But it must continue to improve those numbers to better reflect the increasingly diverse enrollment at ISU, Bradley said.
Bradley said he is “very willing” to talk and meet with representatives of #freeISU. “We are committed to diversity. We’re committed to putting in resources necessary to be successful at diversity. I’m committed to an open dialogue with people who want to see change. I think people of goodwill can disagree on tactics on how to get things done,” Bradley said.
He believes “our goals are the same. I don’t think there is a fundamental difference in goals. It’s really on how you achieve the goals,” he said.
Alivia Redmond, a junior from Hammond, supports #freeISU and was one of those who met with the president early Wednesday. She said she applauded those who chose to do a hunger strike “because it takes a lot of strength to do that. It’s obviously a severe issue for some staff and faculty and students to want to come together and do a hunger strike.”
She added, “There are a lot of things going on on campus and they are brushed under the rug. And when we try to bring them to President Bradley’s attention, he has a quick response to everything instead of trying to listen and really be open to what we are saying.”
Commenting on the mandatory diversity training, Redmond said, “I feel it will bring awareness,” but she remained concerned. “Is it going to be serious and taken serious ... or are you just doing something to shut us up.”