By Abagail Chartier
Stonehill students, staff, and faculty came together on the Quad to discuss diversity and equity in our community.
The sit-in began at 1:40 p.m., and an estimated 300 students, staff, and faculty joined the sit-in hosted on the Quad with a peak of 265 people joining via Zoom.
The sit-in began with a land-acknowledgement by student Fredi DeGuglielmo followed by a prayer lead by Pastor Jemima Pierre before it bled into a 10-minute long moment of silence for those who lost their lives to police brutality, and leaders in the fight for justice and equity.
Afterward, the demands of Students In Action – the group who put together the Sit-In – were read. The full letter was sent out to senior leadership and faculty, which can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_q56VLPAFrkqtgjm2wBOoEbDJfks1kNq/view
Next, speakers both in-person and audio-only discussed thoughts and feelings about recent events and the need for equity on Stonehill’s campus. Brittany Savage and Surround Sound sang Walk With Me by Goldford.
The last half-hour of the event was spent as an open mic where all those in attendance in person were invited to speak and share their own thoughts. The sit-in was wrapped up around 4 p.m. with a closing statement by Glendy Alvarez, Sayvion Jones, and Tahj Valentine.
“If you think this is going to be the only sit-in here? You’re wrong,” Valentine said.