"Communities of Color" Press Conference Highlights Lack of Diversity at UMD
Channel: JP Rennquist
Date: 2013-05-20

(FULL DISCLOSURE:  I am a current UMD graduate student.  Also, I have personal and relationships with each of the individuals who spoke at this press conference.)  

Representatives from a group calling themselves "Communities of Color" held a press conference at the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Friday, May 19th.  Speakers at the press conference included Joe Bouie, Claudie Washington, Ricky Defoe, Carl Crawford and Xavier Bell.  WGZS missed a few minutes of Joe Bouie's speech but the others are presented here completely unedited.  

The speakers did not take questions from the media at this event.  

UMD Chancellor Lendley "Lynn" Black released the following statement in response to the news conference:

"I was in a Campus Climate Change Team meeting when I received word that there was going to be a news conference on campus taking issue with UMD's Strategic Plan.  We welcome voices that challenge the status quo and stand behind our commitment to equity, diversity and social justice for all.  One of our recent proactive initiatives in this area includes the recruitment of a Faculty Fellow for Intercultural Initiatives.  We began the search in April and hope to have the position filled later this month."    

WGZS will continue to share more information about this developing story as it becomes available.   Produced by JP Rennquist for WGZS-FM

Creative Commons Copyright 2013, WGZS-FM, radio service of Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  Reuse permitted with attribution to the source.

For more on this video check out Perfect Duluth Day, linked here:  

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2013/05/20/communities-of-color-leaders-take-issue-with-umds-lack-of-diversity/