STOP to reply to University in conference

Today is the 15th business day deadline Students Transforming Oppression and Privilege (STOP) gave the University administrators, including President B. Joseph White, Chancellor Richard Herman and Provost Linda Katehi Thursday Feb. 1 at the forum "Racism, Power and Privilege at UIUC."

The two-hour forum, which attracted close to 2,000 students and community members, addressed campus issues such as the Chief controversy, the "Tacos and Tequila" incident and certain Facebook groups listing racist threats.

According to the STOP press release, the forum was an attempt to bring the administration's attention to the "racist and hostile environment" and engage the campus in open discussion about the campus climate.

An open letter to the administrators on STOP's Web site, www.iresist.org, states they "expect a written and verbal administrative response to each of the thirty-five STOP demands" by 11 a.m. today. Details of the demands can be found on the Web site.

A press conference will be held at noon at the African American Cultural Center to respond to the University's response. Members of the STOP coalition, directors of campus programs such as Native American House and African American studies are expected to attend.

"Diverse campus coalitions will reunite to address campus issues and STOP will respond to the anticipated administration deadline," said Reem Rahman, junior in LAS and spokesperson for STOP.

"We believe the administration is taking this seriously and into consideration and contacting the appropriate campus units. We are anticipating a serious response and commitment to critical changes on campus," Rahman added.

More details will follow after the press conference.