We, the undersigned students and alumni of the University of Kansas, have witnessed and experienced racism and cultural ineptitude on campus. Furthermore, we are responsible for advocating for accountability from our elected student leadership and alma mater. Last week’s campus forum made clear that students of color are ignored, alienated, harassed and targets for racially-motivated violence in all corners of the University.

However, the means by which students and student officials are taking to counteract these terrible atrocities on campus are anti-intellectual, anti-free speech, and an ineffective way to advocate for change. Change must occur through conversation, however difficult or ugly it is. If conversation does not change the environment on campus, change must occur through the democratic process in the spring elections. Forcing officials to resign because of a difference of opinion or difference on the process to achieve these goals, it sets a terrible precedent for future democratic processes. Although important to address the cultural inadequacies of our University, it is important to note that allowing a small group of people to dictate the policies of a university begins a dangerous precedent.

Our Demands as Students and Alumni

We call for our student senate officials to remain in office and for the student senators to vote against any motion for impeachment.

Together, we must find solutions now that allow our school to combat racism and better serve the needs of students, staff, and faculty of color. Pursuit of these solutions begins with conversation, not forcing resignations.

In solidarity with all students on campus, especially those underserved communities,

KU Students and Alumni

CC:Bernadette Gray-Little, KU Chancellor

Jeffrey Vitter, KU Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor

E. Nathan Thomas III, KU Vice Provost for Diversity and Equity

Tammara L. Durham, KU Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Michael Williams, KU University Senate President

Tom Beisecker, KU Faculty Senate President

Chris Wallace, KU Staff Senate President

Ruben Perez, Director of KU Student Involvement and Leadership Center

Student Senate Legislative Body as follows:

Trent Allen, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Connor Birzer, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Riley Botz, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Madison Bowler, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Kelsey Campbell, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Mattie Carter, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Frankie Hernandez, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Elizabeth Johnson, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Adrian Janowiak, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Chance Maginness, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

McKenzie Ortiz, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Adam Steinhilber, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Daisy Tackett, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Brandon True, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Fr/Soph)

Emma Anderson, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Lauren Arney, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Harrison Baker, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Corbin Stephens, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Annelise Chaparro, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Madeline Dickerson, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Elise Gao, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Shegufta Huma, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Keonya Jackson, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Ciara Putman, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Kellor Yde, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Haris Vrahliotis, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Tymon Wall, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Jr/Sr)

Nick Faust, School of Architecture

Tanner Hyland, School of Architecture

Gabby Naylor, School of Business

Nick Steiner, School of Business

Erin Fowler, School of Business

Michaella Schick, School of Education

Katlyn Meggers, School of Engineering

Lauren Sherwood, School of Engineering

Brett Wagner, School of Engineering

Nick Latimer, School of Engineering

Nitin Kanukolanu, School of Engineering

Jack Stevens, School of Engineering

Nora Neary, School of Journalism

Quinn Ried, School of Law

Cody Wood, School of Law

Erin Gaines, School of Music

Kat Young, School of Music

Samantha Anderson, School of Pharmacy

Kimmie Bolton, School of Pharmacy

Jacob Coons, School of Social Welfare

Alex Kinkead, School of Social Welfare

Brent Lee, Graduate Student Senator

Brittney Oleniacz, Graduate Graduate Student Senator

Amy Schumacher, Graduate Graduate Student Senator

Hannah Schulpham, Graduate Graduate Student Senator

Nanyi Deng, International Undergraduate Senator

Saharat Peampongsant, International Undergraduate Senator

Xiaochan Wang, International Undergraduate Senator

Sophie Wang, On-Campus Senator

Curits Kaine, Off-Campus Senator

Danny Summers, Off-Campus Senator

Baxter Vaz, Off-Campus Senator

Blake Weiter, Off-Campus Senator

Howard Trey Wolf, Off-Campus Senator

Sarah Elliott, Non-Traditional Student Senator

Logan Sutton, Holdover Senator

Sophia Templin, Holdover Senator

Taylor Zabel, Holdover Senator

Seth Eaton, Freshman Senator

Thomas Green, Freshman Senator

Nobus Oghenekaro, Freshman Senator

Ashley Dunn, Freshman Senator

John Foster, Freshman Senator

Dylan Jones, Finance Associate Senator

Spencer Quattlebaum, Student Rights Associate Senator

Jacey Bishop, Multicultural Affairs Associate Senator

TJ Blake, University Affairs Associate Senator

Matt Dunn, All-Scholarship Hall Council (ASHC) Senator

Javier Lara, Association of University Residence Halls (AURH) Senator

John Rebein, Interfraternity Council (IFC) Senator

Mady Womack, Panhellenic Association Senator

Chancellor Adams, Black Student Union (BSU) Senator

Joanna Marin, Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) Senator

Landri James, First Nations Student Association (FNSA) Senator

Tho Nguyen, Asian American Student Union (AASU) Senator

Marcus Pepperdine, Spectrum KU Senator

Maddie Irelan, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Senator

Megan Dennis, Graduate Student Advisory Board (GSAB) Senator

Garrett Farlow, ROTC Senator