Week 1- Kelsey Kim

Kelsey Kim
Section A03
Week 1

Just like Professor Valverde's first lecture, I found her story in "Fight the Tower: A Call to Action" to be equally riveting and emotional. I was honestly too stupefied by shock and disgust that I was unable to share how watching the video on the UC Davis Pepper Spray Incident had made me feel. However, I felt similar emotions while reading about Professor Valverde's fight for tenure. One thing that stood out to me is the perspective that although a victim of racial and ethnic oppression may feel alone, these incidents are not unique as there are many who experience them. It should be noted that change can be made when individual victims unite against such transgressions by creating a movement that can no longer be ignored. The student campaign, "saveVnow", and its publicity were key in achieving this significance. Due to the fact that we are all students ourselves, it is important to understand what obstacles lie in wait in the world of academia. Perhaps in doing so, we may be able to prepare for them, and further change the system. In a society that demands degrees in order to be successful, it is shameful that so many oppressors lie in weight within the educational system itself. The targeting of minorities within the tenure process and educational system is a continuation of the narrative that all men are created equal, but some more equal than others; that there are differing degrees to how much work is required for the same opportunities depending on your racial and ethnic background. These inconsistencies in "expectations versus reality" are nothing new if we look at battles for independence and suffrage in American History. I conclude this post with great respect and admiration for Professor Valverde and her grit.

Question:
Why is the public eye so important in demanding? What does this say about those who withhold due privileges and rights?

References:
Valverde, K., (2013). “Fight the Tower”: A Call to Action for Women in Academia, 12(2), 367-419. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
Solidarity Logo [Photograph found in Health Care Title]. (n.d.). In D. B. Werner (Author). Retrieved September 30, 17, from http://davidbwerner.info/my-art-work/drawings-health-care/790-solidarity-logo.html