#racistbruin

LOS ANGELES — Last Monday, an anonymous group of students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) took their protest into the latest edition of the Daily Bruin, or at least what resembled the school newspaper.

To our supporters at UCLA and elsewhere,

Thank you for sharing the Racist Bruin with your networks. Thanks for talking about the Racist Bruin with people you know. Thanks for carrying these conversations forward. These issues are central to our place in education as learners, workers, and teachers. We need these to be on the tip of every tongue when UCLA comes up, because that’s the only way to create a climate (that word!) where the people in charge (looking at you, Block) will feel pressured to do the things within their power to change the status quo. 

Obviously, Racist Bruin actions alone aren’t enough to force the hand of campus administrators. But we, like most activists, are trying different things to move both conversations and solutions forward. We are very excited about this project and looking for new and creative ways to force conversations on a public that is at times unwilling to engage and act. Share with us your thoughts for ideas or stories at [email protected] or tweet #RacistBruin.

Also, feel free to carry out your own actions that share in the spirit and values of the Racist Bruin. You can use the label Racist Bruin if you want to. We don’t feel ownership of discussions about oppression at UCLA. However, if you and your crew do decide to lead your own Racist Bruin action, we would love to help support you by sharing them on our tumblr and providing logisitical support, if need be.  

To our haters and critics,

If you’re mad about our tone or the ‘disrespect’ we showed campus administrators, we hope you’re furious with the administration for its lack of accountability and timely and fair process. They just came out in the Daily Bruin denying any responsibility for failing to address Piterberg’s sexual assault of two graduate students. So please, get angry. Get angry about sexual harassment and physical intimidation. Demand an end to Eurocentric curricula. Tell that #DNB to come out of his office and do something. Come for them, and once they’re got. Then, please, come for us.