Students at Emory Protest ‘Trump’ Chalk Markings

Using white and yellow chalk, someone scrawled “Trump,” “Vote Trump,” and “Trump 2016" around Emory University’s Atlanta campus on Monday. Some students responded by holding a protest of Donald J. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, which prompted the university president, James W. Wagner, to issue a statement on the “unexpected chalkings.”

“After meeting with our students, I cannot dismiss their expression of feelings and concern as motivated only by political preference or over-sensitivity,” Mr. Wagner wrote in a campuswide email. “Instead, the students with whom I spoke heard a message, not about political process or candidate choice, but instead about values regarding diversity and respect that clash with Emory’s own.”

And students took to Twitter to express their distaste for the chalk marks. (Mr. Trump’s rallies have at times been scenes of violence, with protesters in some cases being injured and minority attendees being verbally abused.)

The students’ opposition quickly drew criticism on Twitter.

Moving forward, Mr. Wagner called for students to “continue to engage in rich and meaningful dialogue around critical issues facing our nation and our society.” His full statement is below:

Dear Emory Community,

Yesterday I received a visit from 40 to 50 student protesters upset by the unexpected chalkings on campus sidewalks and some buildings yesterday morning, in this case referencing Donald Trump. The students shared with me their concern that these messages were meant to intimidate rather than merely to advocate for a particular candidate, having appeared outside of the context of a Georgia election or campus campaign activity. During our conversation, they voiced their genuine concern and pain in the face of this perceived intimidation.

After meeting with our students, I cannot dismiss their expression of feelings and concern as motivated only by political preference or over-sensitivity. Instead, the students with whom I spoke heard a message, not about political process or candidate choice, but instead about values regarding diversity and respect that clash with Emory’s own.

As an academic community, we must value and encourage the expression of ideas, vigorous debate, speech, dissent, and protest. At the same time, our commitment to respect, civility, and inclusion calls us to provide a safe environment that inspires and supports courageous inquiry. It is important that we recognize, listen to, and honor the concerns of these students, as well as faculty and staff who may feel similarly.

On the heels of work begun by students last fall and advanced last month through the Racial Justice Retreat and subsequent working groups, Emory is taking a number of significant steps:

• Immediate refinements to certain policy and procedural deficiencies (for example, our bias incident reporting and response process)
• Regular and structured opportunities for difficult dialogues (like the Transforming Community Project of several years ago)
• A formal process to institutionalize identification, review, and addressing of social justice opportunities and issues; and
• Commitment to an annual retreat to renew our efforts.

To keep moving forward, we must continue to engage in rich and meaningful dialogue around critical issues facing our nation and our society. I learn from every conversation like the one that took place yesterday and know that further conversations are necessary. More than that, such discussions should lead to action that continues to foster a more just and inclusive Emory.

Sincerely,
Jim Wagner