Hunter
07/08/20
Over two dozen University of Iowa students are calling on officials at the school to address racism in the Nonfiction Writers Program.
A letter sent to John C. Keller, dean of the university’s Graduate College, included a ten-step antiracist action plan they wish to be implemented at the English Department and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the faculty at the writing program has already agreed to make some immediate changes. In a response to the letter, they acknowledge failing Black students, and committed to rebuild the program.
The group wants more Black faculty and the creation of a bias workshop for the program’s incoming students and faculty. They’re also asking for the program to include more diversity in its required readings.
The paper also reports that students shared stories of bias and racism they’ve experienced as writers at the University of Iowa on the Instagram account, “blackiowawriters.”
Both students and faculty have contributed to the posts; one student describes being called racial slurs at a bar before being thrown out, and an instructor says a student included the phrase “golden age of slavery” in a paper.
The group is calling for a way for students to anonymously report concerns and more help available for persons of color to deal with moving to predominantly-white Iowa City and the University of Iowa.