The City of Ithaca employed rangers to patrol the dams along Six Mile Creek this summer and enforce swimming and cliff jumping bans. Despite the pilot program, city officials said it has only had marginal success in enforcing rules and that violations are increasing as Ithaca College students return to school.
During the Fall 2015 semester, colleges and universities across the country were rocked by student protests addressing racial tensions on campuses. Ithaca College was also affected by these issues, and it is among many other institutions that are now trying to heal their communities while also facing losses in enrollment and retention.
Allowing students of color into the house does not mean that they have the same educational opportunities as their white peers. The students are in arms because they understand this, perhaps even more than administrators.
Students protesting the racial climate at Ithaca College are not the only ones finding a collective voice with which to address institutionalized racism. In a tumultuous fall semester, at least 75 other colleges and universities have begun bringing their demands for change to their administrations.
The familiar “Tom Rochon; no confidence” chant took a new form at POC at IC’s “Demands Walk-out” Dec. 11. POC at IC summoned Ithaca College President Tom Rochon to the stage at Free Speech Rock outside of Campus Center during a walk-out to hear a formal list of demands, with the crowd chanting: “Tom Rochon, resign.”
By Max Denning, Assistant News Editor
• October 28, 2015
Approximately 40 students, led by members of the POC at IC group, stormed the stage Oct. 27 during the college’s “Addressing Community Action on Racism and Cultural Bias” event and expressed “no confidence” in Ithaca College President Tom Rochon.
By Max Denning, Assistant News Editor
• October 24, 2015
Members of the POC at IC group assembled around 8 a.m. today at the Dillingham Fountains chanting “Tom Rochon; no confidence.” “No more dialogue; we want action,” as they awaited tour groups of prospective students and their parents as part of the Ithaca College Fall Open House.