In a situation reminiscent of recent actions at other colleges, students at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York staged a walk-out on Wednesday to demonstrate a show of solidarity with the University of Missouri and to voice "no confidence" in school president Tom Rochon.
@IthacanOnline #POCatIC pic.twitter.com/x2Xw53glpR— Sara Kim (@sara_Y_kim) November 11, 2015
Thousands of students fill the academic quad. pic.twitter.com/A8NvSdPCct— The Ithacan (@IthacanOnline) November 11, 2015
The "Solidarity Walkout" was led by a student group called People of Color at Ithaca College. Members of the group circulated a letter that listed their case against Rochon.
We hope you all are sharing and spreading the walk out on Wednesday to everyone you know! There is power in numbers.— POC at IC (@POCatIC_) November 10, 2015
This statement, handed out by @POCatIC_ members, explains why they have no confidence in Tom Rochon. pic.twitter.com/r3PeUkJudv— The Ithacan (@IthacanOnline) November 11, 2015
In late October, the school's student government association held a vote of no confidence in Rochon for what they considered his inability to address a pair of controversial events at the school.
Earlier in October, the ire of some students was raised during a panel in which an older white alumnus repeatedly referred to another panelist, a much younger African-American alumna, a "savage" in an attempt to humorously build on a previous comment by the young woman.
Also in October, the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity -- which is unaffiliated with the school but counts Ithaca students among its members -- sent an invite for a “Preps and Crooks” party that included racially charged descriptions for "Crooks" attire.
The school's newspaper, The Ithacan, reported around 1,000 students showed up at the walk-out, which included a die-in and chants, as well as an extended moment of silence in solidarity with other campuses and student speakers.
@IthacanOnline members of @POCatIC_ argue with pro-rochon protesters pic.twitter.com/jUkmPbzPcF— Mary Ford (@TheRealMaryFord) November 11, 2015
The @POCatIC_ student group begins to speak. pic.twitter.com/fesHX46L8N— The Ithacan (@IthacanOnline) November 11, 2015
Protestors chant "Tom Rochon, no confidence" while conducting a die-in. pic.twitter.com/fZ8T3Gh3pI— The Ithacan (@IthacanOnline) November 11, 2015
Ithaca's campus community staged a similar event in December 2014 to protest the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
A similar, though smaller, rally was held at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
#VCU students stand in solidarity with #Mizzou in the Compass pic.twitter.com/7IGDbfDTYp— Commonwealth Times (@theCT) November 11, 2015