Students at Colgate U. Stage Sit-In Over ‘Institutionalized Racism’

A group of students has staged a sit-in for the past two days at Colgate University’s admissions office, protesting what they call “institutionalized racism, macro-, and micro-aggressions that have been happening at Colgate and nationwide for a long time.”

The students have presented the New York university’s administration with a petition that includes a list of demands calling for, among other things, more diversity training campuswide, according to an email from the group.

Colgate’s president, Jeffrey Herbst, has voiced support for the protesters in two written statements this week. “As recently as this weekend, a community member witnessed Colgate students yelling racial and homophobic slurs,” Mr. Herbst said in a statement on Monday. “We are also aware of appalling anonymous social-media posts from members of our community that disparage persons of color, and students have reported having to endure offensive remarks. We are outraged that not all students feel fully included or welcomed on our campus.”

Mr. Herbst said in a statement on Tuesday that the administration planned to present a response to the protesters’ petition on Wednesday.