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My name is Mark Patenaude. I am a former employee of Smith College, where I once worked as a custodian. In the summer of 2018 I was falsely accused of racism by a black student on her Facebook page and my life and my family's life has not been the same since.
Part of my story has been recounted in a recent New York Times article. more of my story is below.
On July 31, 2018 I worked the early morning shift 5am-1pm and then went home.
Unbeknownst to me, a custodian who had worked at Smith for over 30 years with no prior conflicts with students was preparing to close a house and caught a glimpse of a student (an adult that he did not recognize) lying down on a couch in the closed living room.
The custodian did what the college instructed staff to do at the time if they see anything out of place; he phoned campus police to report it. An unarmed campus police officer showed up. He engaged in a pleasant exchange with the student, which the student recorded on her phone, and allowed her to remain in the area.
The student posted the video to Facebook later that day, imputing racist motives to the custodian who had called campus police. In her post she wrote:
“I am blown away at the fact that I cannot even sit down and eat lunch peacefully. Today someone felt the need to call the police on me while I was sitting down reading, and eating in a common room at Smith College. This person didn't try to bring their concerns forward to me, but instead decided to call the police. I did nothing wrong, I wasn't making any noise or bothering anyone. All I did was be black. It's outrageous that some people question my being at Smith College, and my existence overall as a woman of color. I was very nervous, and had a complete meltdown after this incident. It's just wrong and uncalled for. No students of color should have to explain why they belong at prestigious white institutions. I worked my hardest to get into Smith, and I deserve to feel safe on my campus.”
The student’s post generated a lot of media attention.
A few weeks later, I was horrified to discover that the same student had identified me as on her Facebook page at “the racist,” who had been involved in making the call to campus police. She posted my photo and email information along with that of co-worker Jackie Blair, a dining staff worker who had worked in the dining room of the house that day but was not involved.
In her post, the student said:
“This is the racist person … Prestigious white institutions need to foster a community in which students of color feel safe, like they belong, and are empowered to thrive academic and socially. Students of color shouldn't have to explain why they're going about daily lives on campus. Smith has refused to release the identity of the caller(s).
They're essentially enabling racist cowardly acts by allowing the caller(s) to benefit from anonymity. The said caller was placed on leave. I don't know whether it was a paid. However, by coming forward I am automatically placed in a spotlight which I cannot escape. My experience was traumatizing and humiliating in so many ways, and I couldn't remain silent. I had to use Social media as a tool to contest the criminalization of black bodies in America.
After my incident I went to the Smith College directory and looked up the dining staff, as well as the housekeeping and facility maintenance staff. Luckily I was able to identify the man and woman who I saw pacing back and forth looking into the common room before the cop or campus police officer arrived.
This woman knows for a fact that I am a student at Smith and has seen me in the dining halls during the academic year. There must have a been some sort of exchange between that man and woman.
I demand a face to face apology from these people and, President McCartney”
The post was re-published in another media outlet with my picture and my name in the article.
I have a pre-existing Anxiety Disorder and her post sent me over the top. I was out of work for many month's suffering from incontrollable anxiety. My anxiety is so great that I was unable to return to work and now find myself on permanent disability.
Thank you to recently resigned Smith College staffer Jodi Shaw for bringing public attention to this matter in her series of videos and on the national news, to African-American Civil Rights leader Robert Woodson and The Woodson Center for standing up for staff at Smith College. Woodson recently authored a letter to President Kathleen McCartney, signed by over 40 prominent black intellectuals and leaders across the country, requesting that Smith College do the following:
1. Make a public apology to the accused service workers
2. Cease forced and accusatory “anti-racist” trainings
3. Compensate the service workers for the harm they have endured
Thank you for reading and for considering making a contribution to help me and my family.
Part of my story has been recounted in a recent New York Times article. more of my story is below.
On July 31, 2018 I worked the early morning shift 5am-1pm and then went home.
Unbeknownst to me, a custodian who had worked at Smith for over 30 years with no prior conflicts with students was preparing to close a house and caught a glimpse of a student (an adult that he did not recognize) lying down on a couch in the closed living room.
The custodian did what the college instructed staff to do at the time if they see anything out of place; he phoned campus police to report it. An unarmed campus police officer showed up. He engaged in a pleasant exchange with the student, which the student recorded on her phone, and allowed her to remain in the area.
The student posted the video to Facebook later that day, imputing racist motives to the custodian who had called campus police. In her post she wrote:
“I am blown away at the fact that I cannot even sit down and eat lunch peacefully. Today someone felt the need to call the police on me while I was sitting down reading, and eating in a common room at Smith College. This person didn't try to bring their concerns forward to me, but instead decided to call the police. I did nothing wrong, I wasn't making any noise or bothering anyone. All I did was be black. It's outrageous that some people question my being at Smith College, and my existence overall as a woman of color. I was very nervous, and had a complete meltdown after this incident. It's just wrong and uncalled for. No students of color should have to explain why they belong at prestigious white institutions. I worked my hardest to get into Smith, and I deserve to feel safe on my campus.”
The student’s post generated a lot of media attention.
A few weeks later, I was horrified to discover that the same student had identified me as on her Facebook page at “the racist,” who had been involved in making the call to campus police. She posted my photo and email information along with that of co-worker Jackie Blair, a dining staff worker who had worked in the dining room of the house that day but was not involved.
In her post, the student said:
“This is the racist person … Prestigious white institutions need to foster a community in which students of color feel safe, like they belong, and are empowered to thrive academic and socially. Students of color shouldn't have to explain why they're going about daily lives on campus. Smith has refused to release the identity of the caller(s).
They're essentially enabling racist cowardly acts by allowing the caller(s) to benefit from anonymity. The said caller was placed on leave. I don't know whether it was a paid. However, by coming forward I am automatically placed in a spotlight which I cannot escape. My experience was traumatizing and humiliating in so many ways, and I couldn't remain silent. I had to use Social media as a tool to contest the criminalization of black bodies in America.
After my incident I went to the Smith College directory and looked up the dining staff, as well as the housekeeping and facility maintenance staff. Luckily I was able to identify the man and woman who I saw pacing back and forth looking into the common room before the cop or campus police officer arrived.
This woman knows for a fact that I am a student at Smith and has seen me in the dining halls during the academic year. There must have a been some sort of exchange between that man and woman.
I demand a face to face apology from these people and, President McCartney”
The post was re-published in another media outlet with my picture and my name in the article.
I have a pre-existing Anxiety Disorder and her post sent me over the top. I was out of work for many month's suffering from incontrollable anxiety. My anxiety is so great that I was unable to return to work and now find myself on permanent disability.
Thank you to recently resigned Smith College staffer Jodi Shaw for bringing public attention to this matter in her series of videos and on the national news, to African-American Civil Rights leader Robert Woodson and The Woodson Center for standing up for staff at Smith College. Woodson recently authored a letter to President Kathleen McCartney, signed by over 40 prominent black intellectuals and leaders across the country, requesting that Smith College do the following:
1. Make a public apology to the accused service workers
2. Cease forced and accusatory “anti-racist” trainings
3. Compensate the service workers for the harm they have endured
Thank you for reading and for considering making a contribution to help me and my family.
Organizer
Mark Patenaude
Organizer
Millers Falls, MA
