Fight Hate in NC
Donation protected
In May, 2014, a student brought a noose to school to threaten me with. He was only suspended from the school for one year (so next Summer, he can come back to continue his racist tirades), even though the courts in NC found him guilty of "communicating a threat" and "ethnic intimidation." But I don't feel supported by the college, especially after I found out by accident, that they released my entire personnel file to the lawyer of the student who brought the noose (including a copy of my social security card, medical beneficiaries with my children's socials and birthdates, tax information, and my bank account information for direct deposit.) I want to fight the injustices I've encountered. I've tolerated their behavior for years without exposing them, but now they've gone too far and have put my family in danger.
In an ironic twist of fate, I'm basically being blamed for it by being told that I need to be nicer to "this particular subset of students" (read: white, male, veterans.) I'm a veteran, too -- that's how I worked my way through college, on an ROTC scholarship. I was also accepted to the US Military Academy at West Point.
But more to the point, I teach about race, sex and gender, and social class (Intro to Sociology). I am a dedicated educator, and my evaluations prove that. Over the years, I have about 97% satisfaction rating, and my students continually send notes and emails of support and satisfaction. (They showed up en masse at the courtroom for the trial of the noose.) No educator can please 100% of their students -- we are charged with teaching, not pleasing.
In the end, this is a college, and students don't get to bring weapons to school, even if they don't like their instructors. A judge confirmed that in a court of law. How will things ever change, if I don't take a stand now? I have to fight back before someone ends up dead or seriously injured at my college. Please help me retain a great civil rights attorney who has experience with administrations like this one.
In an ironic twist of fate, I'm basically being blamed for it by being told that I need to be nicer to "this particular subset of students" (read: white, male, veterans.) I'm a veteran, too -- that's how I worked my way through college, on an ROTC scholarship. I was also accepted to the US Military Academy at West Point.
But more to the point, I teach about race, sex and gender, and social class (Intro to Sociology). I am a dedicated educator, and my evaluations prove that. Over the years, I have about 97% satisfaction rating, and my students continually send notes and emails of support and satisfaction. (They showed up en masse at the courtroom for the trial of the noose.) No educator can please 100% of their students -- we are charged with teaching, not pleasing.
In the end, this is a college, and students don't get to bring weapons to school, even if they don't like their instructors. A judge confirmed that in a court of law. How will things ever change, if I don't take a stand now? I have to fight back before someone ends up dead or seriously injured at my college. Please help me retain a great civil rights attorney who has experience with administrations like this one.
Organizer
Kimberly Williams
Organizer
Jacksonville, NC
