After Isaac Coutier '22 and Aidan Lloyd '24, student leaders of Oles Against Inequality (OAI), President David Anderson '74 and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Bruce King spoke at the "7 Feet for 7 Shots" march Friday afternoon, Joshua Wyatt '21 and Brianne Smith '23, members of the Cultural Union for Black Expression (CUBE), took the microphone and spoke against St. Olaf administration's influence on the event and failure to address institutionalized racism on campus.
The planned march around campus began immediately after Wyatt and Smith's addresses, though some students in attendance walked off the field and chose not to participate in the rest of the event.
Over the course of Friday evening, night and Saturday morning, students created chalk displays in front of Buntrock Commons and placed signs and posters around Anderson’s house on Ole Avenue.
Here are pictures from the speeches, march and ensuing chalk and sign displays. Photos by Madelyn Wood ’22 and Megan Lu ’24.
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Bruce King addresses students. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Lloyd delivered a speech after Anderson. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Wyatt took the microphone following Lloyd’s speech and addressed students and administrators. “You want Ole culture to look like white, Norwegian, cis-het, white men. I am not that. I am non-binary. I am Black. I am femme. I represent Black women. I represent Black queer people.” Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Smith spoke following Wyatt. “Y'all made me think that St. Olaf and life on the Hill was so damn welcoming. And it’s not.” She continued, “You need to understand that we are hurt. The Black students on this campus is not going for the bullshit.” Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Students hold signs up over a fence outside Klein Field. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
Three students display signs through a fence overlooking Klein Field. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
A student displays a Black Lives Matter sign while sitting on a bench overlooking Klein Field. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
A student holds up a sign over a fence overlooking Klein Field. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
Students watch Smith’s speech through a fence overlooking Klein Field. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
Students march up the hill in front of Thorson Hall toward the beginning of the planned route. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
Students begin their march up the hill in front of Thorson Hall. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
Students march in two lines near the Center for Art and Dance (CAD). Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
A student displays a poster while marching near Ytterboe Hall. Megan Lu/The Olaf Messenger
Seth Mutenda ’22 raises his first during the march around campus. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Students march in front of Old Main toward the end of the planned route. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Students created chalk displays in front of Buntrock Commons, reading “Listen to Black Voices” and other statements. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
A chalk display outside the front doors of Buntrock Commons reads “#PDAOut”. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
A sign reading “Black Lives Matter” placed over the model of Steensland Hall in front of Anderson’s Ole Avenue home. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Signs placed in front of the front door to Anderson’s Ole Avenue house. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Signs covering the model of Steensland Hall in front of Anderson’s house on Ole Avenue. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
Two students survey signs displayed in front of Anderson’s Ole Avenue house. Madelyn Wood/The Olaf Messenger
