We are working in strong solidarity and support with Caitlin Cherry, a Black VCUarts adjunct professor who was harassed by VCUarts Associate Professor Javier Tapia while working on October 25, 2018.

Each time someone fills out this info, our message is sent out loud and clear to 7 VCU officials instantly.

HERE'S THE LETTER WE'RE SENDING:

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To VCUarts and VCU officials:

We are the black, brown, LGBTQIA+, women, and ally students/faculty/adjuncts/community members  working in strong solidarity and support with Caitlin Cherry, a Black VCUarts adjunct professor who was harassed by VCUarts Associate Professor Javier Tapia while working on October 25, 2018. Caitlin Cherry was sitting in the VCU adjunct faculty lounge when Javier Tapia entered. After Cherry greeted Mr. Tapia, he left shortly and then security arrived to verify that Cherry was a faculty member.

VCU sells prospective students on our diversity. Why then, on a diverse VCU/VCUarts campus, are adjunct faculty and students of color and QTPOC being harassed by VCU employees? This incident is just one of many we’ve seen on U.S. college campus’ where being black on campus results in dangerous confrontations with campus security, police, or school employees. Safe spaces are valued, but that is not enough alone. We deserve to feel safe anywhere on campus, all the time.

If VCUarts and VCU stands with their adjunct faculty, students of color, and QTPOC, Javier Tapia will be formally disciplined. Additionally, a campus-wide session will be scheduled by VCU (organized in direct-part by Amnesty@VCU) in the spring, with a meeting time and location accessible to the majority of our student and adjunct population, to address this incident and get student and adjunct feedback on how VCU officials can truly #MakeItReal for all of us.  

You can contact us at amnestyintvcu@gmail.com by 12pm Tuesday November 6 to express your support.

We stand with Caitlin Cherry, does VCU?