In one of the largest demonstrations of student self-governance in recent memory, approximately 400 students protested outside The Cavalier Daily office in the basement of Newcomb Hall on Wednesday evening.
The Black Student Alliance, the Griot Society and other concerned community leaders sponsored the march and sit-in, entitled "Hoos Silent," partially in response to an opinion column written by Anthony Dick in Wednesday's Cavalier Daily.
"The column was only a symptom of a larger problem," said Tim Lovelace, a fourth-year College student and student member of the Board of Visitors. "Basically, students for a while now have been pretty fed up with coverage they have received, particularly African-American students."
The students cited racial tension and insensitivity at the University as other major issues of concern to them.
"Anthony's article was the last drop that made the cup overflow," BSA President Tyler Scriven said.
After reading Dick's column, concerned students immediately began to correspond, eventually meeting to compile a list of grievances that they circulated throughout the day.
These grievances included "lack of coverage on African-American events and issues, irresponsible and divisive journalistic practices, ineffective recruitment efforts of students of color, biased reporting and defamation of African-American student life."
Concerned students also were encouraged to meet at the Office of African-American Affairs at 9 p.m. to march to The Cavalier Daily office.
"Every student had a newspaper in their hand and dropped it outside the door of The Cavalier Daily to show how hurt and flatly rejected they felt," Lovelace said. "It was an act of civil disobedience."
Scriven and Griot Society President Jesica Wagstaff spoke, as well as M. Rick Turner, dean of African-American Affairs. Cavalier Daily Editor-in-Chief Brandon Almond also spoke briefly to announce that The Cavalier Daily had agreed to meet with African-American leaders and address their grievances.
The march and sit-in lasted between a half hour and 45 minutes after which the students placed their newspapers in recycling bins.
"We were impressed by the sheer size of" the protest, Almond said. "We knew they were coming, but I think we were surprised by how many people there were."
African-American leaders plan to meet with the Managing Board of The Cavalier Daily early next week following a meeting this weekend with black students and other concerned groups.
"It's a volunteer organization," Almond said. "Anyone who wants to come down to the basement is welcome."
African-American leaders realize their constituents need to make an effort to volunteer as well.
"We called upon several students to sign up with the paper to write," Scriven said.
Despite inevitable controversy, The Cavalier Daily does not plan to censor its columnists in any way.
"We're not going to not run something because it's controversial," Almond said. "Our columnists are free to express their opinions, but we will be extra careful from here on to make sure the facts on which those opinions are based are not misunderstood."
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