Statement from WARC in Response to Recent Events

 Statement from WARC in Response to Recent Events

On September 28th, Wofford News sent an email to the Wofford Community highlighting the “successes” of the new strategic vision. WARC values and appreciates any steps forward that Wofford takes towards being anti-racist. However, even if Wofford met all of WARC’s demands, we know that anti-racism work would not be complete. 

In the face of the work that the Campus Community is doing to be anti-racist, we are not convinced and have been provided little evidence that the President’s Cabinet or Board of Trustees is doing the same, save for anti-bias training. The response to WARC from the President’s Cabinet and President Nayef Samhat has been underwhelming, to say the least. We have yet to witness a member of the President’s Cabinet demonstrating to the community that they have actively worked to unlearn white supremacy and relearn anti-racism.

Perhaps the most appalling, in confrontations during the protest hosted by WARC, Wofford Women of Color, and Wofford Men of Color on Oct. 1, President Samhat outright denied and blatantly disregarded the experiences of Black students at Wofford. 

We do not believe Wofford can make meaningful change or reparations without first taking responsibility for and apologizing for an environment conducive to systemic racism. 

Earlier this week, Spartanburg became the only city in South Carolina to publicly acknowledge past racism and apologize to its Black residents. 

WARC now calls on President Samhat, the President’s Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and the JEDI Committee to follow in suit of Spartanburg City Council by acknowledging systemic racism at Wofford College and apologizing for racial injustices and long-lasting inequities.