Students from Two Area Colleges Organize Protests

Hundreds of students walked out of their classes at Ithaca College yesterday. The walkout was planned on a facebook page created by a group called “People of Color,” and was done to demand that Ithaca College President, Thomas Rochon, step down due to what the protesting students say is an inadequate level of response to racist incidents on campus.  Some Binghamton University students are also becoming increasingly unhappy with Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger’s response to racial and LGBTQ issues on campus. Students from the Black Student Union and Students for Change met with Stenger in March to discuss their concerns, and are unhappy with what they say is a lack of change on campus since then. Both Rochon and Stenger have not shown any indication that they will step down.