Ta k e t h e P o w e r

This amienicfK mas prepared by the Northern Vermont Greens and in no way necessarily represents the opinions oj anyone else.
We encourage a diversity oJ leaets expressing any other viewpoints.
Racism can be overcome through either authoritative or democratic means, and it has come time to clearly
choose one or the other path. We stand at a crossroads. The path we choose will make or break all that we have
struggled for during these last few intense dixys and. for some of us. the last couple of years. We must therefore
be careful and not let our waning stamina and impending nal exams cloud our choice.
Like the drums under the balcony of the UVM Waterman Building, which began slowly but are now a persistent
beat, the past week has seen the organic development of a campus movement and a growing sense of anticipation
that change can indeed happen. At rst, a small band of students of color took over the President's Ofce last
Monday. Each day, like an improvisation jazz session, new composilions ever richer and more fully developed
have evolved from the students, faculty, st^ff and community.
From impromptu noon speakouts and a couple of signs, the movement has become self-orchestrated. Small
gatherings of organizers have turned into large "town meetings" late into each night in the foyer of Waterman,
where people arc experiencing direct democracy, some for the rst time. Individuals have joined together Into
numerous afnity groups willing to risk themselves through acts of civil disobedience and hunger strikes. Hun
dreds of people have covered Waterman and other campus buildings with signs and banners. In seven short days,
an amazing array of actions, education and organization has taken place.
It's as if the political awakening was scored: yet. miraculously, it has developed as people came together spontane-
"-"onsly. We have risen to the occasion through our innate but often suppressed sense of humanity cooperation and
d e mo c r a t i c i d e a l s .
Yet. it's not simply that the number of people and actions have increased (which they have). The real excitement
and potential of this action Is that the very tone of the event Is continually becoming more ethical, reasoned and
libcratory. While people were initially focusing on anti-racism and demands of reform from within the system, the
response on the part of the UVM administration and a growing self-awareness around Waterman has shifted the
political dialogue to ihat of Institutional racism, working outside the system and decentralizing sources of power.
In fact, the people, having taken to the streets, have shown a steady development toward actually taking the power
and moving toward a grassroots, libertarian left.
The question is. can the democratic potential of this movement be fullled?
Authoritarianism? The direction of most other anti-racist campus movements has been to work out com
promises with the administrators and trustees of fundamentally repressive institutions. Students have not
sought to democratize the university and decentralize power, but have pressured a racist institution into impos
ing often authoritative mandates upon students and faculty. In a spirit not of humanity and freedom for all.
students have restricted freedom of speech and attempted to codify behavior and thought even as they speak of
diversity. This often gives new meaning to the moral tyranny of intimidating people into being "politically correct."
must be honest with ourselves and admit that we can become just as authoritative as the authority of institu
tional racism we're trying to oppose. We must be alert for the dangerous side the Leninist-Maoist interpretation
of the demands for punitive measures for "incorrect" behavior, for re-education and for mandating a certain
type of education. must challenge the notion of mandated education to begin with (that is. why have any
required courses?) as being a coercive educational technique while simultaneously calling for a diverse cur
riculum developed and controlled by the students and faculty. We must not look at forcing the board of trustees
to "give in to our demands" or add a few people of color to the board itself: instead, we should dismantle the board
and create truly democratic decision-making bodies that will represent the interests of the people not the corpo
rate structure. We must be vigilant against any attempt to interpret and apply the demands in coercive and
authoritarian manners. Let us look self-critically at how the demands t into our vision of a free, diverse and
democratic educational system, and reject those that allow for any authoritarian interpretation.
Liberal single-issuism? Another understandable but re^retlable tendency is to limit the movement to a mere
special-interest pressure ^roup. The student movement of tlie '80s made this fatal error. Alter several years ol
maturation, the movement never develoi>ed beyond a coalition ofsinje issues. It culminated in a 1989 national
conference which dissolved into single-issue fractionallsm. At the same time, the formation of the student union
"Human Oiversity League" at UVM was quickly and devastatiiijily destroyed when someone asked "who is the most
oppressed ^roup?" nifferenl oppressed groups were then pitted against each other instead of "doin^r the rij^ht
tiiin^^." as Spike Lee's lilm advocated.
Thepni^iiuiticnudcyniriHamou^usvvinit to limit this act iou lo mililaut lobbying, some wiiutin^ to work within
the system and others wajitin^ to shake up "business as usual" until the demands are met. Some ar^ue that
dem(')cracy can wait until the future: we lurd to ^et the demands met before nal exains. Others arf^ue that tiic
caminis community at lar^^e cannot be trusted to make decisions or that people will make the wrong decisions.
But if we cannot trust people to mutually overcome racism, how can we even think of trustinf^ the trustees, who
are so intej^ral to this racist institution in tlie rst place?
The point is that the university community is focused on the issue ol racism. Maybe we can pressure the university
to make this campus a little bit more comlbrtable ibr people of color in the short-term. But is this all that \vc
really want? Haven't the 22 students occupyiuf^ Waterman demanded sell-determination and freedom lor all ?
Haven't pcojile argued that this glit against racism can usher in more than comfort, but can also lead toward a
better, freer world? Certainly, this is a luird choice: it's easier to go ibr what we can get now vs. striviiig for the
ideals we arc ever capable of reaching, iiut. as Tracy Chai)man sings. "If not now, then when?"
Democracy. A mature university movement is a democratic one n(jt an authoritarian or single-issue com
promise. it addres.ses the fight for single-issues not in isolation ofone another reducing each to a mere special
iiitt-rest but in the spirit of humanity, freedom and co{>pcration toward a common end. This has been em
phasized over and over again by many students and faculty of color of the occupation. The movement outside
must rellcct this same elevated and wise spirit. The ght to end racism and develop diversity is not solely in the
interests of one group, but in the interests ol all.
Never has an act ion crystalized such popular support {and in such a short time) from such a diverse cross-section
of campus and community people and organizations. This is truly a rare moment we may just be able to end
racism through a ck-mocratic and participatory resolve. We must keep up the song ol freedom, building toward
realizing the demands of the "Waterman 22" while directing ourselves toward divesting the Board of Trustees of
their power. They are the main source of not only a racist institution, but of an institution that is unaccountable,
undemocratic and oppressive to a variety of struggles. In the next few days, we must take concrete action to take
the power.
TUESDAY - FACULTY SENATE MEETING. This slet-ping giant has incrcdililc powers that have barely been
tapped. There are already rumblings of discontent among the faculty over President George Davis on a varitMy of
other issues. Addrc.ssing the faculty's lack of control over their own curriculum and professional lives, specically
in relation to multi-cultural ism and racism, may nally wake up this most essential element of campus democracy
and a true co[nmunity of scht)lars rather than a business ol vocational training.
THURSDAY - WE PROPOSE A UNIVERSITY "TOWN MEETING" prior to the Board of Trustees' meeting, to
begin the negotiations among ourselves as a coimiumity ol laeulty. stall and students. An appointed council Irom
the Faculty Senate. Stuilent Association and the Staff Council can meet beforehand to collect proposals and
[)rcpare the agenda.
Whether or not this is practical, this is Die principled thing to do. To 'do the right thing" today recjuires nothing
less. The memory of remaining steadlast and principled, even if it lails. is far more powerful and ii^sjjiringlo UVM
students next year and other students around the country In the contimiing struggle for democracy and diversity,
tlian the memory of compromise. Kacism is a deep wound that cuts ai'ross all of the body politic. Band-aids may
cover it up for the moment But to truly heal this wound, as well as others, we must renew our faith in
humanity's potentials and act as if the whole world was watching.