And in upstate New York, Ithaca College President Tom Rochon has resigned after months of protests against racism on campus. This comes one month after students voted overwhelmingly to cast a vote of no confidence against Rochon. Students have accused the college president of responding inadequately to racist incidents, including one where an African-American alum was repeatedly called a “savage” by two white male fellow alumni at a public forum on Ithaca College’s future. Speaking on Democracy Now! in November, Ithaca College professor Peyi Soyinka-Airewele discussed the campus’ grievances with Rochon.

Peyi Soyinka-Airewele: “I think the crisis we have at Ithaca College is certainly a long-standing historical struggle with President Rochon, who faculty, students and staff have found to be unaccountable, unresponsive, and alienated leadership. And so, this has been a long-standing struggle with the administration to create a community that is inclusive, not only of race, but of student voices, faculty input and staff input. And so, we’ve had many incidents over the past few years, since Rochon has been in office, that describe and show eloquently that he has absolutely no regard for the contributions of members of the community.”