NEWS

Mitch Daniels responds to Purdue protesters' demands

Taya Flores, tflores@jconline.com
Purdue President Mitch Daniels

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels issued a response Tuesday to demands student protesters gave the administration more than a week ago.

In the statement, Daniels reassured students of the university's commitment to a "discrimination-free campus" and announced the immediate creation of a campus safety relations committee to begin meeting in December.

Daniels was not available for further comment.

The statement came in response to a Nov. 6 student protest that drew hundreds of supporters and a Nov. 17 meeting between Daniels and protesters.

At the rally, Purdue students, some of whom are members of the Purdue Social Justice Coalition, read a list of 13 demands aimed at curbing the racial insensitivity they say exists on campus.

Daniels meets race protesters, makes no promises

The demands included increasing minority students and faculty; more merit and need-based financial assistance for minority students; and a police advisory board consisting of diverse students, faculty and staff.

The campus safety relations committee addresses the students' request for a police advisory board, according to Brian Zink, a Purdue spokesman.

In the statement, Daniels said a majority of the demands were in alignment with the administration's existing plans to increase scholarship funds, recruit underrepresented minority faculty and students, and release reports about diversity efforts.

Adam Williams, a junior in chemical engineering and a member of the Purdue Social Justice Coalition, said he was "pleasantly surprised" by the letter given last Tuesday's meeting.

"I didn't expect to receive anything from President Daniels, considering how rocky our meeting was," he said.

He said Tuesday's letter was "a step in the right direction," but the group plans to hold Daniels accountable going forward.

"We're here for a reason, and we'll keep on him and Purdue Student Government to make sure he follows through with everything he said," Williams said.

Students protest racism at Purdue