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Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election

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November 15, 2016

Last week’s election of Donald J. Trump to the Presidency of the United States came not only as a shock to many, but also portends dramatic change in the political, social, and economic life of America.  Mr. Trump’s mobilization of some of the most virulent and ominous tendencies of American culture throughout his campaign has left many of us feeling fearful for our safety and deeply uncertain for our collective future.

Most worrying in the week since the election are the nationwide reports of confrontation and intimidation by Mr. Trump’s supporters targeting numerous groups on racial, ethnic, gender, sexual preference, and religious grounds, as if the electoral victory had emboldened instigators of discrimination and hate.

Here at the New School, President David Van Zandt notified us on Saturday of “the defacement of four dormitory doors on our campus with a symbol intended to threaten and express hatred toward some of our students because of their identities.” He clarified the next day that “swastikas were drawn on the doors to four suites in our Kerrey residence hall.”  These alarming incidents have in turn been reported by local and national news outlets and are currently under investigation by the New York City Police Department.

Now more than ever, we must insist upon and stand up for our values and beliefs.  The hate speech directed at our community members is abhorrent, completely unacceptable, and simply cannot be tolerated.

As President Van Zandt reminds us:

The New School is a diverse community comprised of a mixture of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual or gender identity, and political beliefs. This diversity is what brings the creative energy and critical discourse that makes our community so unique. That someone would attempt to create fear amongst us is inexcusable. This is not what we as a community stand for, nor is it something we will tolerate.

We in Literary Studies stand fully by this commitment and will continue to dedicate ourselves to it.

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November 15, 2016

Last week’s election of Donald J. Trump to the Presidency of the United States came not only as a shock to many, but also portends dramatic change in the political, social, and economic life of America.  Mr. Trump’s mobilization of some of the most virulent and ominous tendencies of American culture throughout his campaign has left many of us feeling fearful for our safety and deeply uncertain for our collective future.

Most worrying in the week since the election are the nationwide reports of confrontation and intimidation by Mr. Trump’s supporters targeting numerous groups on racial, ethnic, gender, sexual preference, and religious grounds, as if the electoral victory had emboldened instigators of discrimination and hate.

Here at the New School, President David Van Zandt notified us on Saturday of “the defacement of four dormitory doors on our campus with a symbol intended to threaten and express hatred toward some of our students because of their identities.” He clarified the next day that “swastikas were drawn on the doors to four suites in our Kerrey residence hall.”  These alarming incidents have in turn been reported by local and national news outlets and are currently under investigation by the New York City Police Department.

Now more than ever, we must insist upon and stand up for our values and beliefs.  The hate speech directed at our community members is abhorrent, completely unacceptable, and simply cannot be tolerated.

As President Van Zandt reminds us:

The New School is a diverse community comprised of a mixture of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual or gender identity, and political beliefs. This diversity is what brings the creative energy and critical discourse that makes our community so unique. That someone would attempt to create fear amongst us is inexcusable. This is not what we as a community stand for, nor is it something we will tolerate.

We in Literary Studies stand fully by this commitment and will continue to dedicate ourselves to it.