‘BC silences racism’ flyers hung throughout campus
‘Silenced again by Boston College despite following all of their posting guidelines’
Flyers entitled “BC SILENCES ANTIRACISM” have been posted all over campus – and they aren’t exactly easy to decipher.
They outline a series of race-related events, ultimately leading to an administrative decision that just occurred this week.
The Tab has broken down this flyer and its events for you.
“August 2015,” the flyer reads, “Faculty from the Center for Human Rights and International Justice (CHRIJ) and other departments* plan lecture series on race and racism.”
The asterisk leads the reader to the side of the poster, which indicates the centers on campus involved in the lecture series on race. These departments include the Center for Human Rights and International Justice, African & African Diaspora Studies, Psychology and the Other, Lynch School of Education, Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology Department.
The flyer’s path then moves to the beginning of the semester. It says: “September 2015: CHRIJ agrees to use an infographic made by Eradicate #BostonCollegeRacism as the flyer for their speakers series.”
This three-point guide infographic asks the questions “What would institutional commitment look like at BC?” “Where can we intervene at BC?” and “How do we move together at BC?” in order to abolish injustice and racism.
It provides possible solutions, and encourages all administrators, faculty, students, and the BC community as a whole to recognize their powers in making a positive change.
“October 21st, 2015: Ta-Nehisi Coates speaks at BC and Eradicate #BostonCollegeRacism hosts a direct action.”
In a Winston Center collaboration, Coats, author of Between the World and Me, presented the Lowell Humanities Lecture Series. His book is written in the form of a letter to his young son who is trying to understand racism and his identity in a world where he is denied the freedoms he deserves.
CHRIJ promoted the event, as noted on their most recent flyer, abiding by all posting policies. However, this pathway flyer indicates a problem with this.
The flyer says: “October 27th, 2015: The Provost’s office informs CHRIJ that they cannot post their flyers because they contain content associated with Eradicate #BostonCollegeRacism. WHAT?!”
In confusion regarding this decision, the flyer comments on the current status of CHRIJ and Eradicate Boston College Racism.
It states: “Today: Flyers wasted. Money lost. Faculty censored. HOLD BC ACCOUNTABLE.”
The Eradicate Boston College Racism Movement Facebook site posted saying they have been “silenced again by Boston College despite following all of their posting guidelines.”
This post noted that BC received the lowest “Red Light Rating” from FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Ultimately, these flyers bring attention to – at best – an administrative problem, and at worst, a “silencing” of student efforts.