Most of Us Are Mad

By Jamie Lamé

In what world, where we are theoretically afforded our right to protest under the First Amendment, can we not protest freely? I am aware that it is a great privilege to be afforded that right of protest. There are many, many places in the world where billions of people do not have that right, as much as they need to have it.

I am writing in a specific time and place. American University, right now. We are being told, per widely publicized emails, three things:

1. No protests will be allowed inside university buildings.

This is to “ensure that protests do not disrupt university activity, including classes and events.” Okay? Things should be disrupted. That’s the whole point of protesting. Admin just wants to go on as if nothing is wrong. This policy, to me, is akin to how jurisdictions within the U.S., and throughout the world, make it extremely hard to protest on public land by requiring those planning to protest to obtain several permits and adhere to law enforcement blockades so as not to be a disturbance to others. What if we need to be a disturbance to others to get it through your heads that we are not happy with you?

2. Student clubs and organizations will be welcoming to all students.

This should go without saying. I really don’t know why they need to hire another person to ensure that all clubs and organizations are “welcoming” to all students. That is so subjective and can take on so many different meanings. Welcoming also does not mean accepting. Saying a club is welcoming does nothing to ensure the student feels accepted and safe within it. It seems like this is only a “new” policy so admin can use it to police specific student organizations that don’t align with their blood money values.

3. Posters and university-sponsored events will promote inclusivity.

For a university (capitalist, money-driven entity) that supposedly prides itself on being inclusive of everyone, the oligarchs aren’t being particularly inclusive of those who choose to dissent against them. In my experiences with the university and interactions with other students, it seems as though their attempts to create an “inclusive” environment exist only for only a few groups: those who are liberal (but not too far left), white, cis, and either straight or gay. Not much in the middle of the gender or sexual orientation spectrum though, as much as they challenge themselves to do so. When you are a P.W.I. (predominantly white institution), there are inherent biases to those who are not white or straight.

From the university policy on “Freedom of Expression and Expressive Conduct”:

“Rights of the University:

While committed to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression, the University itself need not remain neutral regarding ideas or beliefs expressed on campus. Further, the University enjoys its own freedom to respond or communicate the institution’s values and principles” 

The university, through actions and because it cannot say outright through words, has told us that we cannot protest for either cause. This is because it does not want to look antisemitic by suppressing the Jewish community’s voice. 

Ask yourself: has the university admin already chosen a side?

 Considering the death threat sent to a Palestinian faculty member and how there was not much done to protect Palestinian members of our community after this. Also consider how the admin has rarely mentioned the Palestinian community in their emails, while almost always, the Jewish community was mentioned at least a few times per email. Admin has already chosen a side. A side they cannot say out loud because they’re supposed to be “inclusive.” They even have chosen to reinvent the curriculum of AUx 2, and even getting the FBI involved. Has anything happened? Not that I’m aware of. Previously, it was all about racism and teaching us students at this PWI about what intersectionality is, to a point where we know what it is and it feels like they are covering their asses by saying “we force everyone to take a class that teaches them to be inclusive.” 

However, it has chosen to suppress us all saying what we believe because they cannot outwardly say what they believe. As a result, we can no longer protest in university buildings or put up posters that do not outright say why they are “inclusive.” They will likely make obtaining approval for any protest extremely hard to impossible, so those of us who do organize one will do it unapproved and will risk huge consequences.

This creates more binaries within the campus that begin to be enforced in a way that hinders the “inclusivity” of any space within the university. For example, those who are gender non-conforming who do not use one of about 4-5 combinations of pronouns will be excluded or punished for doing so. For example, from my own experience, when I took AUx 2 last year, we were doing a pronoun circle at the beginning of the semester. Most people, by their pronouns, presented cis. I said that I use any pronouns and did not particularly care what anyone used. The professor and the peer facilitator gave me a look of cognitive dissonance as if they could not feel good about themselves and include my gender identity in their class. At the end of class, I was told by the two of them that I needed to pick pronouns to use because they did not want to misgender me and wanted to “include” me in class. 

Here is a word of advice if you ever tell a non-binary person to pick either different pronouns or pronouns in general: just don’t please. There is no reason to inflict this on somebody who already has a complicated relationship with themselves.

My point here is that AU is only “inclusive” to those who only look at the surface: prospective students, their parents, and donors. All three are sources of money that the admin will manipulate to take all of it from those groups who are viewed as dollar signs by the university. This style of manipulation also comes with an added side effect of how most classes are capped at 12-19  to ensure “small class sizes.” This deprives students of the “excellent” education and causes an absolute bloodbath during course selection every semester. 

Back to the email: how is it possible to be inclusive when both groups believe they are actively being oppressed? Both groups also believe they are wholly correct in what they believe and that there is only black and white. However, oppressing both groups further will just make them angrier at each other and increase the consequences for the university. Doing so will lead the university to systematically take our rights as humans and students away. These actions are the, dare I say, start of a draconian set of policies that will continue to make students angry at the university and make the culture and vibe here worse than it already is. Hint: it’s already bad for everyone. 

I wish I transferred when I had the chance to. I am embarrassed to say I go to American University. I would think a lot of the community is too. It is safe to say that this challenge was accepted and failed quickly.