April 27, 1989
Student march and rally held
Students of color organized a march and a rally calling for the administration to take action in response to the four racist notes that were received in Chapin House. Approximately 100 students marched to College Hall, where the heads of Smith’s cultural organizations read a statement in solidarity with the four black students who had received the notes, as well as “everyone else who has experienced racism on this campus.” They demanded that immediate action be taken, saying that “no excuses will be accepted by the women of color on this campus.” Students then marched in pairs from College Hall to Chapin House, where a rally of between 500 and 600 students was held. The recipients of the notes and other students made speeches and talked to President Dunn when she arrived at the rally.
The special Sophian edition “Racial Tension at Smith” from May 4th, 1989 can be found here (1, 2, 3, 4).
[Last updated on October 31, 2018]