By Azhley Rodriguez
More than 50 Dominican students rallied against police violence and white supremacy in the Quad and marched down Division Street last Thursday.
The two-part event started with an interfaith vigil to honor the lives lost to police brutality.
Student speakers Lauryn Bergert, Carlos Benitez and Chelsea Zhao read speeches emphasizing the need to end systemic racism against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), and Asian Pacific Islanders.
“Before I get started, I want to make one thing known: today is not a photo op or a time for Dominican University to get really good press. Today is not a moment to get an Instagram worthy picture to make you seem woke, and then to never discuss this issue again,” Bergert said. “Today is another moment we can use for change.”
Carlos Benitez echoed the need for change in his speech highlighting the issues facing communities of color today.
“Communities of color are being harassed, communities of color are being killed,” Benitez said.
Maria Orozco, a University Ministry student intern, recited an interfaith prayer honoring the people who have recently lost their lives to police brutality. This was followed by a prayer ritual performance by Xochil-Quetzal Danza Azteca, a group of Mexican performers who preserve their ancestors’ culture through prayer.
The students also wanted change within Dominican.
Before the rally, students had learned from the DU News Snapchat anonymous Q&A document that Dean of Students Norah Collins Pienta posted a Blue Lives Matter flag on her Facebook in March 2020. Collins’ husband is a Chicago Police Officer.
Ariel Kimbrough, a student worker in the CCL and member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs ended the vigil with a demand for accountability.
“There is a stark difference between Black lives and blue lives. The difference is: one exists, and the other does not,” Kimbrough said. “In light of recent events on our campus, students are upset and hurting. It is our school’s responsibility to live up to its promise of becoming an anti-racist institution. That includes holding students, staff, and administrators accountable for their opinions and behaviors.”
Bergert agreed.
“Accountability is necessary,” Bergert said.
Collins Pienta did attend the rally. In a later email she sent to student leaders, she addressed the controversy.
“I understand that posts on my private Facebook page can be associated with an extreme belief that is positioned as Anti-Black Lives Matter. I did not intend to create a situation in which you would feel your life didn’t matter.
“The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa have made a commitment to become an anti-racist congregation. As an administrator at Dominican University, I need to challenge myself to uphold those principles –– to advocate for change,” Collins Pienta said. “I will embrace my role working with the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center to reflect upon my own experiences, positionality and privilege. I am going to take some time away from my responsibilities with One Process to provide me the time to engage this learning.”
Collins Pienta’s supervisor, Vice President of Student Success and Engagement Barrington Price, said in a later interview that he has taken the situation personally and assured students he will listen to what they want. He said he is actively working and listening to student organizations to hear what they say about the situation and how he can help.
“This is something that is quite personal to me. I represent a community that feels impacted by what we marched on,” he said. “The first thing to do is to understand who we serve at this institution. I serve the students. My sole responsibility is to make sure students feel safe, validated, and like there is equity.
“We’re going to listen to students.”
Students met with Collins Pienta this Monday to discuss their concerns.
Price doesn’t know what actions will be taken at the administrative level yet.
After the speeches in the quad, students, staff, and faculty then began the second part of the event. They marched and chanted from the quad to Priory Campus and back. A shuttle bus followed and blocked intersections to prevent cars from passing through.
River Forest residents who were outside of their homes cheered as students walked by, and passing cars beeped in solidarity.
Natalie Stellano, a student who attended the event, said, “this was empowering. As an institution, we need to do better for the Black students who go here.”
The rally and march followed a similar event last October when the CCL and other student organizations on campus led the Walk of Solidarity, also protesting police violence.
arodriguez2@my.dom.edu
