Cornell College is a small, predominately white college that cites a history of activism and equity. They were the first college in Iowa with a female graduate and the first college west of the Mississippi River to recognize equality between men and women. As it is a small, private institution, it regularly undergoes major changes to its curricula and requirements, such as developing a block system in 1978 and introducing an ingenuity core curriculum over the next few years.

We, the undersigned, demand that Cornell College add a requirement to its curricula to ensure that every single graduate is well-versed in matters of race, racism, and racial inequity. This education can take many shapes. Perhaps it is a general education requirement taught in a manner that can be applied to any discipline. Perhaps it is a requirement that is met by individual departments and the classes discuss how race, racism, and racial inequity impact specific fields (medicine, engineering, law, arts, anthropology, etc.)

In order to create a more brilliant future, we must take control of our education and demand that it reflect the reality of our world as it is. We want to be insightful and active scholars with a drive for justice and equity. Our education should help us along that path.