Occidental College Students Protest Diversity Issues, Demand Resignation of

"It was desecrated by two students, and they suffered no repercussions", she said.

Student activists at Occidental College on Thursday continued a sit-in of the administration building to protest racial tensions and diversity issues on campus, calling for the resignation of the school's president.

"I know every black student on campus", she said. The students have said they plan to occupy the administration building until at least Friday, or until President Jonathan Veitch accepts their . "They deserve to have their demands met". Forbes states that African-Americans make up 4.42 percent of the student population at Occidental while Whites make up most of the student body.

On November 17, Chris Calkins, president of the college's Board of Trustees, said the board stands "in full support of President Veitch and have no intention of changing the leadership of the college".

The first demand on the students' list calls for the removal of Veitch, who has led the campus since July 2009.

The 14 demands include the creation of a fully-funded black studies program, an increase tenured faculty of color by 20% and more diversity training for faculty and students.

Chance Ward, a sophomore at Occidental, said, "We should not have to struggle this hard". "To see that [Campus Safety] see people of color as a threat is really frightening. I don't think there could be positive relationships between Campus Safety and students of color with this militarization of the department".

A major protest was held Thursday on campus in solidarity with the University of Missouri, whose system president resigned amid complaints he had done too little to address racism and other incidents, and to highlight the ways the institution has failed black students, she said. "We applaud the socially conscious spirit of these students". "They are bringing attention to an important movement and helping our community have a hard but necessary conversation about race, identity and culture".

The activism at Occidental, a well-regarded liberal arts college, follows a wave of demonstrations nationwide over how students of color are treated at institutions of higher education.

A spokesman for the college said students have declined each day to meet with Veitch.

The Oxy United for Black Liberation group, organized by the college's and Coalition Oxy for Diversity and Equity (CODE), have requested that faculty teach classes in the administrative center throughout the week to show support for the cause. They find the student's stress to be overwhelming, noting, "on top of their daily lives [as students], they have to challenge and educate their peers and us", and that beyond the students at the protest "there are countless others who forge ahead, internalizing the frustration, confusion, and pain".

"I am beginning a series of group meetings with various stakeholders in our community to discuss how the activities of the past weeks have impacted them and how we move forward together", Veitch wrote.