Reponses: March 8 and March 10, 2009

The following posts were made on Monday, March 8 by people not us, as a response to our Open Letter to the Dance Program (http://thisbyus.blogspot.com/2009/03/part-9-march-9-2009.html):

On the first door of the main entrance someone (unidentified with a name or pseudonym) posted some questions to consider.

From response - march 10

Text reads:

MIGHT IT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL TO INVESTIGATE THE KINDS OF ANTI-RACIST AND ORGANIZING WORK OUR TEACHERS AND COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE? IS THERE ANY WAY TO DISMANTLE AND TRANSFORM? OR IS IT ENOUGH TO DEMOLISH?


We considered, then responded in a post next to it.

From response - march 10

The text of our posting reads:

“A PLACE THAT IS UNEQUIVOCALLY A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE AND PREJUDICE SHOULD BE REJECTED, NO?”

Oppression should be unequivocally rejected. It is not the burden of the people being silenced to reject the place in which it happens, in this case the Barbara Barker Center for Dance. Oppressors do not have more ownership of or entitlement to the space where the oppression happens. “Unequivocal” simply means “clear and unambiguous”. We do see the building clearly being a place of privilege and prejudice, just as we see the world outside as clearly being the same. We don’t, however, see it as being unalterably or unforgivably so.

“PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NICE FLOORS, OR PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES EITHER, RIGHT?”

Students do not “take advantage” of the resources that they are paying a very large amount of money for. They are entitled to them, and to voice their grievance if those resources fail to meet their needs.

“OR ARE WE ANTI-RACIST ONLY WHEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS A PERSONAL GRIEVANCE??”

You are trivializing the issue of the violence of racism and abuse of privilege by equating it with a “personal grievance”. Many people choose to fight a battle only when it arrives at their doorstep. Not every survivor can or should be an activist. We are not making it personal—we have spent five weeks cultivating the idea of institutional racism and privilege, and one of the reasons we remain anonymous is so that the focus is on the issues, not the personalities.


The second posting on the inside door of the main entrance - written in the same style as the last.

From response - march 10

Text reads:

A PLACE THAT IS UNEQUIVOCALLY A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE AND PREJUDICE SHOULD BE REJECTED, NO? PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NICE FLOORS, OR PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES EITHER, RIGHT? OR ARE WE ANTI-RACIST ONLY WHEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS A PERSONAL GRIEVANCE??

We responded some more.

From response - march 10

The text of our response reads:

“MIGHT IT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL TO INVESTIGATE THE KINDS OF ANTI-RACIST AND ORGANIZING WORK OUR TEACHERS AND COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE?”

We agree it is very important to investigate the anti-racist work our teachers here have done, which we have respect and admiration for. Our criticism of faculty actions and inaction does not negate the anti-racist work they have done, and likewise, their anti-racist work does not automatically negate the issues we have brought out in the open about the mishandling of racism in this program. Additionally, if you expect us as students to be informed about all the anti-racist work that the faculty has done, the faculty should be expected to educate each other with it. The faculty’s anti-racist work has not made the department free of racism.

“IS THERE ANY WAY TO DISMANTLE AND TRANSFORM?”

Yes, there are many ways to dismantle and transform. None of them are easy, and all of them are complex and long-term. If the University is committed to promoting racial equality and justice, it must work rigorously and consistently to implement these solutions.

“OR IS IT ENOUGH TO DEMOLISH?”

Is it enough to demolish what? White privilege? Institutional racism? Bigotry and prejudice based on any kind of identity? Demolishing any one of those would not just be enough, but miraculous and utopian. Unless you mean is it enough to demolish the pretense that everything is fine and no one feels silenced... in which case, no, it is not enough, but it is enough of a start. We are not sure what else it is you think we are demolishing, besides the white pallor of the walls.

-- us, March 11, 2009 (http://thisbyus.blogspot.com)


Erin F. McIntyre, freshman, also posted twice next to our Open Letter (in handwriting)

From response - march 10

close up - top posting

From response - march 10

text reads:
THAT [with arrow]
is a protest to the passive aggressive behavior of THIS towards the students and faculty of the University of Minnesota dance program, regardless of "color" or race.
Sincerely,
Erin F. McIntyre, freshman class, student of "color"


close up - bottom posting

From response - march 10

text reads:
part of a protest is acknowledging that some people will openly disagree with you...


our response to the top post

From response - march 10

text reads:

We think we are more constructively and passionately aggressive, rather than passively, but we support your right to protest our protest, and would like to reassure you that we do not assume that we speak for any students—of any race—besides ourselves.

-- us, March 11, 2009 (http://thisbyus.blogspot.com)


our response to the bottom posting

From response - march 10

From response - march 10

text reads:

We not only acknowledge it, but we also acknowledge the many who have silently made visible their displeasure about us.

-- us, March 11, 2009 (http://thisbyus.blogspot.com)


To view complete album, click below:

response - march 8 and 10, 2009

There were also changes to the 2nd floor Men's bathroom. Photos and update to come.