Teachers College Students Hold Vigil To Respond to Recent Bias Incidents

“I need you to survive,” rang out Teachers College instructor Patrice Turner, her melodic voice going against sounds of New York traffic. In one hand, she held a candle, while in the other, she held a microphone which students were passing around in a circle.

The TC Student Senate sponsored the candlelight vigil, held Tuesday night in the Teachers College courtyard in response to a spate of bias incidents on campus. Three weeks ago, a noose was found on the door of an African-American TC professor, and last week, two Teachers College professors received anti-Semitic materials.

In contrast to the more traditional protest organized by students after the noose was found, the 30 people present expressed themselves by reading poetry, talking, and singing while standing in a circle.

“The art of becoming one is being exhibited before our eyes,” Ricco Wright, TC, read from a poem he wrote. “Just as a note is connected to a chord progression, we all are connected by ... oppression.”

Three faculty members stood against a car, observing, until Scott Fahey, secretary to the college and assistant to the president, broke away and approached the circle.

“Thank you. It’s a personal thank you. I’ve been having some difficulties in the last few days,” he said. “I was experiencing tumult fatigue. It was all a mass of e-mails and Spectator articles, and Daily News, and press. You’ve collectively given me a sense of identity.”

Michelle Cammarata, TC student senate president, said that although the courtyard was not overflowing with students, the people who did attend will “sustain” the TC community. “It only takes a few people to cause a problem, but it also takes a few people to solve it,” she said. “Diversity isn’t a disease. Diversity just is. People are different, and we can create a community that is sustainable if people understand that.”
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for,” LeLaina Romero, TC, said, alluding to poet June Jordan. “That’s all.” Romero said that before these incidents, she was disconnected from the larger TC community.

“This is an anchor for me that things are continuing to happen. The incidents sparked a lot of discussion,” she said

Jondou Chen, TC, used Martin Luther King’s journey as inspiration. “There is something in the struggle for justice in which all of us are healed, especially when we stand together,” Chen said.

At the end of the vigil, Chen called for a response: a person would say his or her name, and the group would say it back together. “Let’s call each other by names in school halls. And if you forget, tell them, ‘I remember saying your name. Can you tell it to me again?’”

Joy Resmovits can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.