• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
      Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
    • CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
      CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
    • WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
      WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
      Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
    • It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
      It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
    • What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
      What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • No image
      Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy
    • No image
      Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand
    • Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
      Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • Student-Athlete of October
      Student-Athlete of October
    • Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
      Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
    • The Case for Body Neutrality
      The Case for Body Neutrality
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
      Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
    • Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
      Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
    • The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
      The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Jacqueline Sanchez News, News and FeaturesDecember 1, 2016

March for peace revitalizes Wellesley–Babson solidarity

Wellesley students walk for tolerance and respect. | Photo by Audrey Stevens '17, Photography Editor

On Nov. 16, Wellesley College and Babson College held a solidarity march. Over two hundred people from each campus marched to Morton Park in the town of Wellesley and gathered to listen to speakers who shared the common theme of transcending hate.

The march comes in light of an incident that occurred at Wellesley on Nov. 9, when two Babson students drove onto campus and began to harass students with cries of support for Donald Trump. They purportedly singled out students of color and even spat at a student who requested that they leave.

The march was organized by students from Wellesley. Susan Reverby, a Women and Gender Studies’ professor, explained her department’s role in the march.

“The rally was entirely organized by students . . . my department and I supported some of the student organizers by speaking to them about what they were planning, and letting other faculty/staff know about the march.”

Alexa Rodriguez ’17, a principal organizer of the event, explained that organizing the march made her feel productive.

“The day after the hate crimes, and the week following the elections I felt a lot of sadness and frustration. I wanted to turn those feelings into something productive. I wanted to make Wellesley feel like a safe space for my siblings and I again. I came up with the idea of a peace walk when talking to one of my closest friends.”

Many organizers of the march emphasized the importance of bringing the community together. Amina Ziad ’17, another principal organizer, also noted that bringing students of color in particular to the forefront of the march was another goal.

“We did our best to think thoughtfully about what we wanted the demonstration to accomplish and to very clearly center students of color, particularly Black students, in our planning. My specific tasks focused on coordinating with Babson students, and I also took the lead on communication with the Harambee House orgs and making sure their concerns were centered and being met.”

Many participants thought the march was successful in bringing both communities together. Reverby commented on the inspiration that the march evoked. “As we waited outside the college club, having no idea how many people would come, it was just amazing to see the students, alumnae, faculty, administrators and staff who joined us by the hundreds. It was really inspiring. When the students/staff from Babson walked in I was in tears. It is this kind of support and organizing that matters to give us a sense of collective purpose and resistance to undermining equality.”

Ziad found that the march reinforced her belief in the Wellesley community, commenting that “seeing my professors, my peers, my friends, staff members from ORSL, the KSC, and so on, was a testament to our dedication as a community to maintaining Wellesley as a space that promotes equity and justice.”

Rodriguez echoed these sentiments, stating that “the march was extremely successful. It felt so wonderful to have such a great turnout. You could almost physically feel the support and love we had for one another. When Babson came in, it felt like such a force of positivity. I appreciated all of the staff and faculty support. It was particularly meaningful because I think that actions speak louder than words, and the people present in that march gave me hope for a better tomorrow. There are good people out there, we just have to remind ourselves of that reality and the rally did just that.”

Reverby believes that there is still work to be done beyond what the march accomplished. She emphasized the importance of future collaboration with Babson.

“Continuing to support students/faculty/staff here at Wellesley and Babson in more concrete ways will really matter into the future. It would be useful to have joint programming, to consider not just being reactive but active in protection of our rights.”

Considering next steps beyond the rally, Ziad emphasized the conversational and political attitude that the march inspired.

“Moving forward, I hope that we continue to have the conversations that we’ve been having around institutionalized racism, white supremacy, sexism, etc. I hope that we all take the time to educate ourselves on the struggles of our peers and the struggles of the communities to which we belong. I hope that white allies work to recognize the privileges they have, and work towards using those privileges to speak out against injustice. In terms of concrete things we as a community can do now, we can sign the petition initiated by several professors to designate Wellesley as a sanctuary campus or donate to the #NoDAPL movement.”

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleCollege Government Senators take action to pay cabinet members
Next articleStudents participate in historic Women’s Marches to protest inauguration

You may also like

Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”

CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure

WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top