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UI students hold 'Black voices are not heard' rally
IOWA CITY — A couple dozen University of Iowa students held a silent rally Thursday afternoon to raise concerns about not being heard.
The 'Black Voices Are Not Heard' rally took place on the T. Anne Cleary walkway on Thursday afternoon. Participants held signs and covered their mouths with tape. One Black student held a sign that read 'Do I matter to UIowa?'
Freshman Matt Bruce said he's concerned about the lack of black students, faculty and staff at the University.
'If [administrators] are really focused on being a nationally-prominent university, the student body and the faculty should represent the national demographics, and they don't,' Bruce said.
'Every individual experiences the University of Iowa and the Iowa City community in a unique way. We support the efforts of students, staff and faculty on campus to draw attention to concerns and support their expression of free speech,' UI chief diversity officer and associate vice president Georgina Dodge said in a statement. 'As the UI continues to work to develop a climate where all feel truly welcome, we want to hear from everyone on campus. We encourage feedback, and it's vital that we keep the channels of communication open to effectively address concerns.'
Dodge said the University recently created the 'President's Black Student Advisory Committee,' which she cited as one of the possible 'channels of communication.'
University of Iowa student Kayla Wheeler stands with other students with duct tape across their mouths during a Black Voices are not Heard rally on the T. Anne Cleary walkway in Iowa City on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Around 20 University of Iowa students held signs and covered their mouths with tape to symbolize their concerns. Freshman Matt Bruce said he's concerned about the lack of Black students, faculty and staff at the University. 'If [administrators] are really focused on being a nationally-prominent university, the student body and the faculty should represent the national demographics, and they don't,' Bruce said. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
A 'black voices are not heard' sign is held by a University of Iowa student on the T. Anne Cleary walkway in Iowa City on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Around 20 University of Iowa students held signs and covered their mouths with tape to symbolize their concerns. Freshman Matt Bruce said he's concerned about the lack of Black students, faculty and staff at the University. 'If [administrators] are really focused on being a nationally-prominent university, the student body and the faculty should represent the national demographics, and they don't,' Bruce said. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
University of Iowa students lock arms with duct tape across their mouths during a Black Voices are not Heard rally on the T. Anne Cleary walkway in Iowa City on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Around 20 University of Iowa students held signs and covered their mouths with tape to symbolize their concerns. Freshman Matt Bruce said he's concerned about the lack of Black students, faculty and staff at the University. 'If [administrators] are really focused on being a nationally-prominent university, the student body and the faculty should represent the national demographics, and they don't,' Bruce said. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
University of Iowa student Kaleb VanCleave holds a #BlackLivesMatter sign with duct tape across his mouth during a Black Voices are not Heard rally on the T. Anne Cleary walkway in Iowa City on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Around 20 University of Iowa students held signs and covered their mouths with tape to symbolize their concerns. Freshman Matt Bruce said he's concerned about the lack of Black students, faculty and staff at the University. 'If [administrators] are really focused on being a nationally-prominent university, the student body and the faculty should represent the national demographics, and they don't,' Bruce said. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
University of Iowa student Bryan Porter holds a sign that reads 'Do we belong here?' during a Black Voices are not Heard rally on the T. Anne Cleary walkway in Iowa City on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Around 20 University of Iowa students held signs and covered their mouths with tape to symbolize their concerns. Freshman Matt Bruce said he's concerned about the lack of Black students, faculty and staff at the University. 'If [administrators] are really focused on being a nationally-prominent university, the student body and the faculty should represent the national demographics, and they don't,' Bruce said. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
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