Salem College is a private liberal arts educational institution for women in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It enrolls a highly diverse student body of about 1,100 students. African Americans make up 22 percent of the student population.
Recently, a sit-in protest was held on the Salem campus by approximately 100 students. The students started the protest by leaving class and marching to Main Hall. They issued a 10-page list of grievances that said the college fosters a culture of racism, sexism, and elitism. The students complained of faculty racism and said that the word “nigger” had been used in class.
The student document stated that “you’ve had your chance to ignore this, but now it’s in your face. Pay attention. It’s past time you take steps to implement the rights, policies and demands necessary to alleviate the inequity and discrimination that permeate every facet of Salem College.”
The university issued a statement which said in part: “We care deeply about our students, and we acknowledge the importance of the concerns that they have raised. We commit to working with students, faculty, staff, administration and the boards in order to respond to the call to action.”
