NY School District Issues Apology for Exclusive Language at Non-White Student Event
A New York school district apologized for using exclusionary language to promote an event for non-white students. The Ithaca City School District initially specified the Students of Color Summit for grades 6-12 students but later welcomed students of all races. The communication staff expressed regret for the exclusive messaging. An advocacy group raised concerns about potential racial segregation at the event.
A New York school district is apologizing for the “exclusionary language” it used to promote an event for non-white students.
The Ithaca City School District advertised this year’s Students of Color Summit by saying the event was for “students of color in grades 6-12.”
However, the school district ultimately welcomed students of all races at the event, which was held on Friday at Ithaca High School.
“Please know that SOCU is open to all of our secondary students. We apologize for any previous communication that included exclusionary language about the event,” the Ithaca City school district’s communications staff wrote in an email to students and staff.
The event was flagged a few days beforehand by the Equal Protection Project, a nonprofit that says it opposes racial discrimination in any form. The group sent a scathing letter to the school district’s superintendent and school board president.
“We are deeply troubled to learn of a program in the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) which appears to segregate students by race,” the letter read.
The group’s letter claimed an email was set by staffers saying the event was “for students of color to interact with each other” and that “allies” were not invited.
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“We understand in this context that the word ‘allies’ refers to white students and staff. In fact, the message goes on to invite only non-white staff, stating: ‘If you are a staff member of color and would like to attend the summit with our students, please email,’” the letter states.
The letter also said the school district has held Students of Color Summits in previous years that appeared to exclude white students.
The group accused the school district of violating the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination by schools receiving federal funds.
The Equal Protection Project requested that the school district “publicly denounce and renounce past and planned segregationist programs, and open up the upcoming SOCU Summit to all students and staff without regard to race.”
“At EqualProtect.org, we reject the claim that there is a ‘good’ form of racism, or that the remedy for racism is more racism,” said William Jacobson, founder of the watchdog group.
“These principles are embodied in the law and ICSD policies. Why were such policies not followed? ICSD should be transparent and open about how this situation came about,” Jacobson said.
Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown also said the district would segregate students at the event and called the event a “safe space.”
“This is something that our young people have led and have developed because they want a safe space and they want other people to see what that space looks like, too,” Brown said Tuesday in a video posted by the school district.
“I would hope that it would be every day we’d have this kind of event, but it does not happen every day because of the supremacy and the lack of people seeing (our) humanity, and some folks leading with ‘your schools are failing,’” Brown added.
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