Rosa Clemente, spoke about organizing and social justice to students, faculty and community on Oct.23, 2018, as part of Diversity Speakers. Photo by WCJ.
Western Carolina’s third annual Civil Discourse Speaker Rosa Clemente spoke about the importance of organized activism when faced with social injustice on Oct. 23 in the UC Grand room full of students, faculty, staff and guests.
Clemente is a political commentator and journalist who has dedicated most of her life to grassroots organizing and activism for many political struggles facing people of color in the 21st century. Clemente is also the founder and president of Know Thy Self Productions that consults on issues such as voter engagement, media justice and produces campaigns like #PRontheMap, a grass-roots media organization that supports the right for Puerto Rico to become an independent nation.
Before Clemente started her speech, the student that presented her read a disclaimer from the Department of Student Activities. Fueled by the disclaimer, Clemente seized the opportunity to discuss the importance of varying opinions and viewpoints on a college campus.
Click here to read more about the disclaimer and why that decision was made by the director of Campus Activities, Jeff Hughes.
“If we do stand up, we are seen as a subordinate and I did not realize how true that was until she said it,” said WCU senior, Allison Hubbard. “It’s sad because college is a place where we should be allowed to express our opinions.”
Clemente talked about how students can organize a collective effort to help promote social change. College is a place where students learn, refine and build new skills which according to Clemente, should include social activism.
Reflecting on a protest she participated in at Cornell during 1969, Clemente stated, “Campus is the best place to learn to protest and rally.”
Clemente’s participation in protest during her college years taught her that a successful rally needs brave students belonging to different social, racial and ethnic classifications. This knowledge resonates with her today and is what she advises college students to do if they want to see change in their school and the country.
Following the events of last year, WCU senior Edna Loya believes the administration has taken some small steps in the right direction but not enough. She believes there is still unaddressed inequality on this campus and is willing to join with others to repair this injustice.
“As a Latina at this university, I felt like she spoke with truth and awareness and agree that marginalized and non-marginalized students must organize together to fight for justice and equality,” Loya said.
