Emerson College President Jay Bernhardt and the Board of Trustees have chosen to silence student voices rather than listen to the community they are meant to serve. In response to pro-Palestinian actions during the Spring 2024 semester, over 100 students were arrested. This August, the College cut key community-serving programs; issued lay-offs targeting anti-Zionist staff; and decimated the scope of free speech and protest on campus.

Find a more detailed write-up of what’s been happening at Emerson at this link.

This is not the Emerson College we as alumni know and love. Join us in taking a stand. Sign on to the alumni pledge.

Commit to not donating to Emerson College or appearing at official events until the College meets student, faculty, and staff demands:

• Reverse recent policy and code of conduct updates, especially the new protest policies;

• Reinvest in the Bright Lights Film Series;

• Freeze hiring of new police personnel and rehire the staff they laid off in August;

• Drop charges against students for speaking out;

• Establish contract-bound institutional decision-making and administration oversight power to panels of elected student, faculty, staff, and alumni;

• Disclose Emerson’s investments: as prospective donors, we have a right to know where our money is going;

• Use Emerson’s public platforms to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel;

• Create an inclusive environment by offering five annual Emerson College fellowships for Palestinians and create at least one permanent tenure-track professorship position for Palestinian academics or artists.

Signing on will send an email to Emerson College President Jay Bernhardt and seven other key Emerson College administrators letting them know that you stand with the student and worker movement at Emerson. Feel free to add your personal feelings and experiences from your time on campus to the email body!

What else you can do:

1. Follow @boylstonstreetstudentunion @sjpemerson and @fsjpemerson on Instagram for updates.

2. Connect with @emerson.ajp to get involved in alumni organizing.

3. Share this campaign using our outreach kit.

4. Share Your Emerson Protest Photos! Show fellow alumni how ridiculous the new Emerson protest policy is by sharing photos of past campus protests that would be considered “illegal” now. We’re collecting photos to share as part of our social media campaign; submit yours!