Beyond the integrated marketing brochures, offices, and funds thrown towards "diversity", "inclusion", and "tolerance" hide the real thoughts of Northwestern students. They have always existed, yet new anonymous forums like Yik Yak allow for them to come out. These thoughts stifle us, suffocate us, and keep us from feeling safe here. We Can't Breathe.We're tired of grasping for air. We're tired of allowing these messages to lurk in the darkness, so we're bringing them to light. Meet the Northwestern behind the masks of political correctness.
Because having an event for children in impoverished areas by participating in a "Jail & Bail" was really a good idea! -____- Read why that's problematic here!
Re: Kappa Kappa Gamma and Zeta Beta Tau's "Jail & Bail" event.
We.Can't.Breathe.
Shared from suffocatingatnuThis post has since been deleted... but why was it there in the first place?
Not so anonymous post—Cultural appropriation by Northwestern Volleyball players and condoned by Northwestern's official Instagram account.
We.Can't.Breathe.
Shared from suffocatingatnuThe Tumblr is filled with insensitive Yik Yaks, lending to the problem of using anonymity as an oppressive tool.
Campus reactions to the Ferguson decision.
We.Can't.Breathe.
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We.Cant.Breathe
Shared from suffocatingatnuLike... really?! Besides the post itself, can we acknowledge the number of upvotes?!
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In addition to students, the Tumblr calls out comments from NU administration...
Provost Linzer responding to a question from a Native American woman
Shared from suffocatingatnuand from Teaching Assistants! -__-
Please direct your attention to the last 2 comments. In contrast to the preceding comments, these statements were inserted into a conversation that was clearly trying to open a space for dialogue and managed to silence and invalidate the experience of entire groups of people.
No words. How are students supposed to feel safe when their history is cast aside by undergraduate student and TA in Computer Science and the Integrated Science Program at Northwestern.
We.Cant.Breathe
*Note: as this post was made in a public facebook group and not a personal page, we did not feel the need to edit for anonymity.*
Shared from suffocatingatnuLack of understanding and education leading to offensive language from a fraternity on campus.
Submission: AEPi painted the rock last week, and on the back they wrote "Mandingo" in large gold letters. This is a racialized term used in a derogatory way to refer to Black slaves. What is it doing on a rock painted by white men? Why is this acceptable by NU's Community standards?
Shared from suffocatingatnuThe same sorority that attempted to host the Jail & Bail decided culturally appropriating for the sake of bowling was also a good idea.
Pictures from 2015 Kappa Rock N Bowl. It may not be Halloween, Culture is STILL not a costume. #WeCantBreathe
Shared from suffocatingatnuStudents also respond to moments of grieving with opposition.
Responses to honoring young lives lost to hatred.
We.Can't.Breathe.
Shared from suffocatingatnuThose called out often reach out to the tumblr's moderators in hopes of explaining their oppression.
*Note: Since being published on this site, this individual has expressed that they did not intend to make a racist post.*
Shared from suffocatingatnuCriticism of the Tumblr has taken many forms, but the most ludicrous of them again come from Yik Yak. This is what happens when the conversation is uncomfortable.
Our experiences are undermined, cast aside, or regarded as "victim syndrome."
We.Can't.Breathe.
Shared from suffocatingatnuWith the NUDivest Resolution to divest from companies that have committed human rights violations toward Palestinians, campus erupted in a spat of horrendous commentary.
This comment, now submitted to our tumblr 3 times, shows a student comparing supporters of #NUDivest to supporters of the KKK.
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Former College Republicans senator is urged to vote yes to divestment by a constituent and this was his response.
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Ignorant racists referring to Palestinians as "derka derkas".
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Submission: this is an anti-semitic line masked as anti-Zionist critique
Just as we do not condone Islamophobia, we do not condone antisemitism.Shared from suffocatingatnu
NU students have tried to justify why so much hatred is present on campus.
To directly quote my friend's reactions to these messages: "Singular Racist Terrorizes Northwestern POC…If only we could find this one racist that's been harshing everyone's vibe"
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Suffocating@NU also post quotes from various sources about what it means to be able to breathe.
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We.Can't.Breathe.
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