OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT RAO

Dear President Rao,

We, the undersigned faculty, alumni, and staff at Virginia Commonwealth University, of different faiths and political perspectives, stand in support of VCU students. Like so many of their peers around the world, our students are upholding and strengthening the proud civic traditions of protest, dissent, and free speech that are essential to democratic societies and that exemplify the “history of breaking with tradition” that VCU celebrates.

We urge you not to take actions like those of other university and college presidents who deployed repressive tactics to stop students from exercising their right to assemble and engage in nonviolent protests.

More specifically, we insist that you:

• not call the police or campus security to intervene in peaceful demonstrations, restrict access to campus spaces, or curtail free speech;

• not charge, discipline or sanction students, or faculty, staff, and alumni who participate alongside or in support of students engaged in peaceful demonstrations;

• publicly support VCU students, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni’s right to peacefully protest and engage in free speech.

These are OUR students, integral members of OUR community. Without students, there is no VCU.

VCU should encourage students–as well as faculty, staff, and alumni–who, in alignment with VCU’s mission, are exercising academic freedom and participating in “civic engagement... to solve society’s most complex challenges, and to serve humanity.”

Sincerely,

VCU Faculty + Community in Support of Students' Rights:

Cara Benedetto, Associate Professor, Painting and Printmaking

Alexander Zohore, Assistant Professor, Painting and Printmaking

Chris Cynn, Associate Professor, Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies

Mark Wood, Associate Professor, School of World Studies

Lily Cox-Richard, Associate Professor, Sculpture + Extended Media

Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste, Assistant Professor, Sculpture + Extended Media

Saar Shemesh, Adjunct Professor, Graphic Design

Liz Canfield, Associate Professor, Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies

Massa Lemu, Associate Professor, Sculpture + Extended Media

Ana Edwards, Assistant Professor, African American Studies

Noah Simblist, Associate Professor, Painting and Printmaking

Faedah M. Totah, Associate Professor, School of World Studies

Lauren Thorson, Associate Professor, Graphic Design

Rosen Eveleigh, Assistant Professor, Graphic Design

nicole killian, Associate Professor, Graphic Design

Sonali Gulati, Professor, Photography + Film