After releasing a statement detailing a plan to “reshape the first-year experience”, C.A.P.E.S. , Residence Life, Student Retention & Success, CARP, and the Dean of Students signed off on putting the Student of Color dorm in Dakin on “pause” along with launching a peer mentorship program for BIPOC students.

During an open conversation about this discussion with, conveniently the only two administrators of color, we were brought with the statement that POC housing just “did not work.” What dictates whether the housing of our POC “works”? Because it just sounds like Hampshire is experimenting with the living experiences we have on their campus. It sounds like “accurately reflecting Hampshire’s diversity” means making it more difficult for students of color to have the courage to speak out on what it’s like to be non-white at Hampshire because at some point they would have to stop sending us to the only administrators of color. 

Instead of the administration wringing their hands and simply stating that these dorms “did not work”, it is worth including what exactly did not work. Surely it wasn’t for a lack of community- as students that were reported leaving the Students of Color dorm in Dakin intentionally moved together to Merill to form their own community. What didn’t work then? Was it a mismanagement of resources? Was it Hampshire falling short of their antiracist principles and prioritizing white students? Maybe it’s the subpar living conditions that those who have moved into this dorm have endured. Maybe it’s the lack of protection we have all collectively been refused. Administration never follows up on our concerns, never follows up on our crises, and refuses to take us seriously unless we are statistics for an admissions slideshow. That is what’s “not working”. Critically misunderstanding on several occasions how we are socialized and marginalized by our white peers and faculty alike is unacceptable, and is what’s “not working”. It is not us, it is not the BIPOC students of 2021-2024, the weight is solely on Hampshire College and this is their burning indictment. We are outraged that BIPOC first years are being reduced to diversity quotas.