Monmouth College President Clarence Wyatt wrote an email to students last week, published by the college, that addresses national unrest following George Floyd’s killing at the hands of police in Minneapolis.
Over 600 have signed a response letter, as of Wednesday morning, that calls Wyatt’s email “vague” and expresses disappointment that the President didn’t more explicitly condemn racism and police brutality.
Wyatt starts his email by saying that recent events have been “tragic for all Americans”, and asks students to join in efforts for Monmouth to “be a place of teaching and learning.”
He also mentions the recent formation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Wyatt’s letter doesn’t contain the words George Floyd, police, race, black, although it does contain a denunciation of violence.
WGIL spoke with four Monmouth students that currently attend or have recently graduated on why they were upset by Wyatt’s message.
Vanessa Caldwell, a recent graduate says Wyatt’s letter may not have meant to disregard students affected by systemic racism but says his message “lack(ed) a sense of how his voice and actions can help.”
She says in her experience if a black man or woman does something wrong at the college “they receive consequences much different than a white person.”
Lydia DiBissa, a current student says “shying away from the topic can be interpreted as the lack of desire to discuss the issues.”
She would like the administration to say more about how they plan to proactively be “anti-racism and anti-police brutality.”
Deshja Meyers, the current President of the college’s gospel choir, Colorful Voices of Praise, says Monmouth prides “themselves in diversity and inclusion, however, they do not mention any of the real issues going on.”
Meyers believes, “to be silent and dismissive at a time like this, is choosing the side of the oppressor.”
Sam McKelvie, an alum who helped organize the written response to Wyatt says, “Scots don’t do what’s easy, they do what’s right..”
She adds “to avoid offering explicit support to Black students and alumni goes against the very core of MC.”
Vanessa Caldwell says that if Wyatt is hurt by the response to his email, “so be it.”
She says, “we need him to take it personal and learn from this.”
Click here for Monmouth College President Clarence Wyatt’s statement
Click here for the letter responding to President Clarence Wyatt
