News Student Government

Students demand removal of SGA VP through social media

Rohini dos

Tensions have risen over a Facebook post by Rohini Sethi, the SGA vice president, and now students are calling for her removal. | Trey Strange/The Cougar

Twitter and Facebook users are calling for the resignation of the student body vice president after a controversial Facebook post last Thursday.

“Forget #BlackLivesMatter; more like #AllLivesMatter,” SGA Vice President Rohini Sethi wrote at 10:10 p.m. Thursday. The post has since been deleted, but screenshots of it from students of all ethnicities have erupted over social media, especially Twitter, with the hashtag #removerohini.

Wesley Okereke, a psychology senior and the UH NAACP president, said he hopes that the University and SGA will “respond to the issue accordingly.”

“I am deeply disappointed in the comments made by our student body VP, Rohini Sethi,” Okereke said. “To say, ‘Forget #BlackLivesMatter,’ as if we were not a factor in her getting voted into office is a slap in the face to the entire student body. Also, with this school being the No. 2 most diverse university in the nation, comments such as these are unacceptable because it misrepresents the large minority student body here at UH.”

For accounting senior Alexis Sanders, Sethi’s words weren’t just harsh, they were incendiary. She doesn’t feel like Sethi can fully represent her, and therefore, shouldn’t be in student government.

“Being a black woman, her comment was an insensitive, disgusting, thoughtless, and blatantly disrespectful remark,” Sanders said. “Her comment proved she lacks sympathy for her constituents, and if she lacks sympathy for a portion of the students she represents, then she cannot represent the student body as whole. To say, ‘Forget #BlackLivesMatter,” is to say forget all the injustices we face and have faced for years as an African-American race. We are just supposed to simply forget systematic racism, unjust sentences, police brutality and the unlawful killings of the African-American race.”

SGA President Shane Smith said that the opinion was not SGA’s official position.

“SGA believes that the diversity of our student body is what has led to our success as a university,” Smith said. “While we value each other’s differences, there are racial injustices throughout our country that prevent true equality. We all need to work together to be part of the solution.”

On July 9, Smith wrote a letter to all students addressing racial tensions and calling for change. In April, he appointed the first Special Advisor to the President for Campus Diversity.

Niya Blair, director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, spoke with Sethi last Friday after a forum on black men and police officers presented by the Black Student Caucus. After receiving negative feedback on Facebook the day before, Sethi invited dissenters to join her at the event and voice their thoughts.

Blair declined to comment on her conversation with students but said that she hopes university students take the recent tragedies in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights and Dallas to create a conversation about race and respecting different cultures.

“Yes, we have a diverse student population, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t experience challenges like other institutions, and I think this is a good wake up call as a university to see that there’s an opportunity for us,” Blair said. “Let alone what Rohini posts — there are people who agree with what she posted, not saying it’s right or wrong — but this is an opportunity for us to have a large conversation on this campus to really look within at how we look at diversity and inclusion.”

At the heart of the issue, Sethi promoted one advocacy hashtag, #AllLivesMatter, over another. In a popular analogy, Blair likened the debate between the movements to a debate between two people arguing over whether to use a water hose on a burning or non-burning house.

Earlier this year, Sethi accidentally used UH SGA’s Twitter to criticize a candidate from the PowerHouse party. She said she meant to post her comments from her personal account and apologized.

Despite calls for her removal, impeachment proceedings would be a long process. According to the SGA constitution, it would take three-fourths of the senators, or unanimous decision between the president and speaker of the house, a now-vacant position, to nominate her for impeachment. Then, she would stand trial in the Supreme Court.

Leah Nash also contributed to the reporting of this story. Rohini Sethi has not yet responded to a request for comment. 

[email protected]

62 Comments

  • BLM is a racist organization … when was the last time any of them were denied a seat at the counter?

    They do childish things like block the flow of traffic … and everywhere they gather … a store gets robbed or a riot breaks out. So BLM is not an organization that I will ever support. It was born of lies about “hands up don’t shoot” and will always remain second rate.

    BLM demands Respect … but in reality they don’t Respect themselves and much less give Respect to others. And with that slippery slop they will never gain real traction in their efforts. Anyone of real salt will always give respect to get respect.

    I support Rohini in her post, and I hope she does not feel pressured to resign. I hope she tells BLM to go pound sand.

  • So I guess Black lives don’t fall under All lives huh. BLM is a black supremacist (domestic terrorist) organization. She was right to say what she said. BLUE LIVES MATTER.

  • Just like asking dad for your fair share, the phrase “black lives matter” also has an
    implicit “too” at the end: it’s saying that black lives should also matter. But responding to this by saying “all lives matter” is willfully going back to ignoring the problem. It’s a way of dismissing the statement by falsely suggesting that it means “only black lives matter,” when that is obviously not the case. And so saying “all lives matter” as a direct response to “black lives matter” is essentially saying that we should just go back to ignoring the problem. (Reddit- GeekAesthete)

    • There is literally no problem, it has been proven time and time again thag there is no correlation whatsoever between Police shooting black people more than anyone else. If black lives really mattered to these people they would be protesting about the Black on Black violence in the inner cities all over this country. But alas they don’t, because this is all a ploy by a black supremacist organization commiting what has now amounted to domestic terrorism.

      • Sorry, you are wrong I analyzed the data myself. Have you done that. Also, I have seen many protests concerning the black on black violence to mention. The question is why haven’t you?

      • When you allude to “black on black” crime what you’re ill-informed about is how black and white communities experience gun violence “crime” differently. The rate of back gun homicides is almost equal to the rate of white gun suicides — both of which are illegal. Gun violence is not limited to simply homicides. So, NO, the rate of gun violence among blacks is not, in fact, greater than among whites. It is simply expressed differently in a multiracial culture which worships guns over human life.

        • Ok, change it to homocide, blacks commit 50% of all homocides. It would take 40 years for the number of blacks that were killed by cops, to equal the amount of blacks killed by blacks in one year.

            • Youcan get the doc from the DOJ drom here.
              http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-black-americans-commit-crime/19439

              The other one is from the crime stats from fbi.gov. there are on average 112 blacks murdered by cops each year(not just killed), and there are 4400 blacks murdered by blacks each year on average. Therefore it would take 40 years for the number of blacks murdered by cops in a year to equal the amount of blacks murdered by blacks in just one year.

              • Rick Grimes, unfortunately, your response to my comment is utmost inaccurate because I was speaking to everyone that made a post, and to all of the individuals who will take the initiative to view, and to completely comprehend the statement that I wrote. However, I should have responded to your post utmost directly. Therefore, “White on White” crimes, such as the murders of their own children, parents, siblings, spouses, people wanting to enjoy a movie at a movie theater, teachers, students, police officers, and numerous fellow Caucasians that have for centuries been non-compliant, and have refused to indulge and simulate to their ignorant racist ideologies, which have factually surmounted that of any other race on race crime ever committed, especially “Black on Black” crime.

                Unfortunately, there are racist in every aspect of every profession that exist. Therefore, many of these crimes go unnoticed or unrecognized, which results from statistics that were, and still are constructed and conducted by many individuals that possesses personal prejudices, experimental and racial biases. Fortunately, God has blessed each of us with the media, the journalist who report these stories; they make them public, and they too can be persuaded to keep certain incidents silent. However, many of them are not counted in statistics either, which makes some statistics inaccurate and invalid, which means that they are altered to appear in a manner, which gives betterment over other people and races. Therefore, just because you read something in books, articles, journals, or other types of literature does not make it of truth nor of validly. For example, the debate whether or not Caucasians possess higher IQ’s than African Americans. Comically, one of the questions, which was presented on the IQ test was in relation to a cup and a saucer, which has no relation to intelligence but is highly relative to etiquette. Additionally, Caucasians constructed the IQ test, whereas many of them were racist, and possessed many other personal prejudices and biases. Therefore, what type, or how many inaccuracies in the IQ scores do you believe that unfairly affected African Americans? However, the proof lies within the grades and the actual grade point averages of those individuals, which there are numerous unexplained inaccuracies.

                Conclusively, if we would do as the Holy Bible says, which is “Let that individual without sin cast the first stone,” then, and only then, we would be able to resolve these, and any other issues and disagreements that we may have. Life is to short to be living it with frequent hatred and discourse.

          • Unfortunately, many individuals have misinterpreted the true meaning of the statement “Black Lives Matter”, and it was not intended to disregard the lives of other races. For example, if you were of the Caucasian persuasion and your child, family member, or loved one was deliberately and with unwarranted causes murdered by an African American police officer how would you feel, and how would you react? Additionally, how would you feel if these were continuous occurrences, whereas no justice was initiated? Well, not having to read any psychology book, I can elaborate on how the African American felt that took the lives of those five police officers in the unwarranted fashion that he did because the primary goal of the military is to teach and instruct it soldiers to destroy and kill the enemy. Therefore, the enemy to this young man was that of the police, which I deem inappropriate because all police officers are not corrupt. Uncomprehendingly, do people really believe that an “average” individual can constantly be or witness incomprehensible injustices and continue to tolerate it repeatedly?

            Pertinently, your comment about you not being a crybaby is disgraceful, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Inquisitively, do you really think that that the fifteen year old boy who had to witness his father on social media, being held down, unable to move, while those two so-called police officers that took an oath to protect and serve the public shoot his dad six time at close range? Also, do you truly believe that the children of the five slain police officers that were killed in Dallas are crybabies too!

            Factually, many individuals remain in denial of the ignorance and ideologies that have existed towards, not only African Americans but for many other races too. For example, Donald Trump has the audacity and the insolence to make numerous derogatory remarks concerning Hispanics, and people of the Spanish descent. However, Caucasians have caused and are responsible for millions of lynchings, deaths, murders, rapes, and not only of adults but of numerous children, which many are Caucasians, African American right here in the United States of America, such as Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Henry Lee Lucas, Gary Ridgeway, John Wayne Casey, Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Edmund Cullen,Patrick Wayne Kearney, Tommy Lynn Sells;The Brutal Texan, Sadyhook Elementary in Newtown, Columbine, California State University Shooting At Fullerton, Northern Illinois University, Red Lake Senior High Massacre, Aurora shooting in a movie theater in Colorado, Charleston church shooting, and the list continues extensively. Consequently, because of his actions there has been an increase in violence, deaths, and the division of the unity that we have worked and struggled diligently to improve and to make better. Unfortunately, there are numerous individuals that attempt to be critical and downsize others and other countries in means of making themselves appear better than others. Therefore, how can we criticize terrorist groups, such as ISIS until we have thoroughly cleaned our own houses (US)? However, the facts will always remain in plain sight because nothing goes unnoticed by God!

            Utmost importantly, people had better start realizing and acknowledging the promises that our Father God has made to each and every one of us, which is let vengeance be mine, and when I take it you will be present to see it. However, if you delight in it, I will not think highly of you. Therefore, I sleep well through the entire night because I acknowledge that our Father God is going to only hold me accountable for my own actions, and not those of the wrong or evil doers.

            Conclusively, many individuals seem to think that they are of a privileged race. Factually, there is only one privilege, and only one guarantee that our Father God has innately given to each an every one of us , and that is death. Advisedly, having no knowledge when nor how our deaths shall occur, we must live our lives accordingly, with utmost respect, love, compassion, kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, and carefulness. However, there is merit, which is the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward relevant to an individuals efforts, actions, and hard work.

          • Unfortunately, many individuals have misinterpreted the true meaning of the statement “Black Lives Matter”, and it was not intended to disregard the lives of other races. For example, if you were of the Caucasian persuasion and your child, family member, or loved one was deliberately and with unwarranted causes murdered by an African American police officer how would you feel, and how would you react? Additionally, how would you feel if these were continuous occurrences, whereas no justice was initiated? Well, not having to read any psychology book, I can elaborate on how the African American felt that took the lives of those five police officers in the unwarranted fashion that he did because the primary goal of the military is to teach and instruct it soldiers to destroy and kill the enemy. Therefore, the enemy to this young man was that of the police, which I deem inappropriate because all police officers are not corrupt. Uncomprehendingly, do people really believe that an “average” individual can constantly be or witness incomprehensible injustices and continue to tolerate it repeatedly?

            Pertinently, your comment about you not being a crybaby is disgraceful, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Inquisitively, do you really think that that the fifteen year old boy who had to witness his father on social media, being held down, unable to move, while those two so-called police officers that took an oath to protect and serve the public shoot his dad six time at close range? Also, do you truly believe that the children of the five slain police officers that were killed in Dallas are crybabies too!

            Factually, many individuals remain in denial of the ignorance and ideologies that have existed towards, not only African Americans but for many other races too. For example, Donald Trump has the audacity and the insolence to make numerous derogatory remarks concerning Hispanics, and people of the Spanish descent. However, Caucasians have caused and are responsible for millions of lynchings, deaths, murders, rapes, and not only of adults but of numerous children, which many are Caucasians, African American right here in the United States of America, such as Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Henry Lee Lucas, Gary Ridgeway, John Wayne Casey, Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Edmund Cullen,Patrick Wayne Kearney, Tommy Lynn Sells;The Brutal Texan, Sadyhook Elementary in Newtown, Columbine, California State University Shooting At Fullerton, Northern Illinois University, Red Lake Senior High Massacre, Aurora shooting in a movie theater in Colorado, Charleston church shooting, and the list continues extensively. Consequently, because of his actions there has been an increase in violence, deaths, and the division of the unity that we have worked and struggled diligently to improve and to make better. Unfortunately, there are numerous individuals that attempt to be critical and downsize others and other countries in means of making themselves appear better than others. Therefore, how can we criticize terrorist groups, such as ISIS until we have thoroughly cleaned our own houses (US)? However, the facts will always remain in plain sight because nothing goes unnoticed by God!

            Utmost importantly, people had better start realizing and acknowledging the promises that our Father God has made to each and every one of us, which is let vengeance be mine, and when I take it you will be present to see it. However, if you delight in it, I will not think highly of you. Therefore, I sleep well through the entire night because I acknowledge that our Father God is going to only hold me accountable for my own actions, and not those of the wrong or evil doers.

            Conclusively, many individuals seem to think that they are of a privileged race. Factually, there is only one privilege, and only one guarantee that our Father God has innately given to each an every one of us , and that is death. Advisedly, having no knowledge when nor how our deaths shall occur, we must live our lives accordingly, with utmost respect, love, compassion, kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, and carefulness. However, there is merit, which is the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward relevant to an individuals efforts, actions, and hard work.

        • I think what your totally missing here is the fact that you BLM supporters are mad about White Police Officer’s shooting Black people. So your data has literally no meaning here. Bet if a Black cop shot a black man unjustifiably you guys wouldn’t complain at all.

          • Not sure who “you guys” are but to bring up “black-on black” crime as a defense for a thoughtless, public response by an SGA official to a peaceful demonstration and to try to characteristic the BLM movement as anything other than what it is, is to engage in the very racism which makes a movement like BLM necessary. One thing it certainly has done, is shown a spotlight on how much racism exists STILL exists and the wacky excuses racists will use to try to justify their bigotry. Thanks for sharing.

            • Yes. Very strange how the “all lives matter” types don’t seem to value the lives of people they are quick to label as “thugs”.

          • Wow. Ignorant about the issue AND a racist pig. But, little piggy, here’s how it works: if it’s done with a gun whether it’s accidental, deliberate, used on oneself or by someone else as far as the social science literature is concerned, which is the only metric I use (not what some flabby old white dude on Disqus says,) it’s gun violence. And whether you like it or not; Blacks and Whites experience it differently. Now run along to your KKK meeting. I think you’re late.

            • Yeah, blacks experience it in the form of violent thugs trying to show how big their dicks are by trivializing the lives of their neighbors, and whites experience it in the form of trying to escape this hellish place. Good comparison

      • You’re right. When a black thug kills a black child none of these BLM’ers give a damn. But if a cop kills a black guy… LOOK OUT!

    • I am tired of hearing this back-wards rationalized, invisible “too”, at the end of “Black Lives Matter”. The name says everything the founders meant it to say and nothing else. It is a marxist, racist, anti-police, anti-American organization plain and simple.

  • Holy sh**. People are always looking for SOMETHING to gripe about. It’s a free country, she’s entitled to freedom of speech, and she said ALL lives matter. I find it more disparaging for someone to say just one group matters versus all. Besides, I’m Creek Indian, and you don’t see me complaining about being underrepresented in America, do yoi? No. Because I’m not a crybaby.

    • Oh yeah? So are you more likely to be confused for Taylor Swift or Pocahontas? Come back when your 1/16th ethnic identity closes more doors in your face than it opens.

      • I’m 100% Creek Indian, not 1/16th. Maybe ask before you assume. You don’t know what it’s like being Indian in this country, do you? People think I’m Hispanic and treat me like crap. So I’d say yes I’ve had my fair share of doors shut in my face. I love how you act like you know me. Whatever man. Mtvo

  • Unfortunately, many individuals have misinterpreted the true meaning of the statement “Black Lives Matter”, and it was not intended to disregard the lives of other races. For example, if you were of the Caucasian persuasion, your child, family member, or loved one was deliberately and with unwarranted causes murdered by an African American police officer how would you feel, and how would you react? Additionally, how would you feel if these were continuous occurrences, whereas no justice was initiated? Well, not having to read any psychology book, I can elaborate on how the African American felt that took the lives of those five police officers in the unwarranted fashion that he did because the primary goal of the military is to teach and instruct it soldiers to destroy and kill the enemy. Therefore, the enemy to this young man was that of the police, which I deem inappropriate. Uncomprehendingly, do people really believe that an “average” individual can constantly be or witness incomprehensible injustices and continue to tolerate it repeatedly?

    Pertinently, your comment about you not being a crybaby is disgraceful, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Inquisitively, do you really think that that the fifteen year old boy who had to witness his father on social media, being held down, unable to move, while those two so-called police officers that took an oath to protect and serve the public shoot his dad six time at close range? Also, do you truly believe that the children of the five slain police officers that were killed in Dallas are crybabies too!

    Factually, many individuals remain in denial of the ignorance and ideologies that have existed towards, not only African Americans but for many other races too. For example, Donald Trump has the audacity and the insolence to make numerous derogatory remarks concerning Hispanics, and people of the Spanish descent. However, Caucasians have caused and are responsible for millions of lynchings, deaths, murders, rapes, and not only of adults but of numerous children right here in the United States of America, such as Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Henry Lee Lucas, Gary Ridgeway, John Wayne Casey, Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Edmund Cullen,Patrick Wayne Kearney, Tommy Lynn Sells;The Brutal Texan, Sadyhook Elementary in Newtown, Columbine, California State University Shooting At Fullerton, Northern Illinois University, Red Lake Senior High Massacre, Aurora shooting in a movie theater in Colorado, Charleston church shooting, and the list continues extensively. Consequently, because of his actions there has been an increase in violence, deaths, and the division of the unity that we have worked and struggled diligently to improve and to make better. Unfortunately, there are numerous individuals that attempt to be critical and downsize others and other countries in means of making themselves appear better than others. Therefore, how can we criticize terrorist groups, such as ISIS until we have thoroughly cleaned our own houses (US)? However, the facts will always remain in plain sight because nothing goes unnoticed by God!

    Utmost importantly, people had better start realizing and acknowledging the promises that our Father God has made to each and every one of us, which is let vengeance be mine, and when I take it you will be present to see it. However, if you delight in it, I will not think highly of you. Therefore, I sleep well through the entire night because I acknowledge that our Father God is going to only hold me accountable for my own actions, and not those of the wrong or evil doers.

  • Unfortunately, many individuals have misinterpreted the true meaning of the statement “Black Lives Matter”, and it was not intended to disregard the lives of other races. For example, if you were of the Caucasian persuasion and your child, family member, or loved one was deliberately and with unwarranted causes murdered by an African American police officer how would you feel, and how would you react? Additionally, how would you feel if these were continuous occurrences, whereas no justice was initiated? Well, not having to read any psychology book, I can elaborate on how the African American felt that took the lives of those five police officers in the unwarranted fashion that he did because the primary goal of the military is to teach and instruct it soldiers to destroy and kill the enemy. Therefore, the enemy to this young man was that of the police, which I deem inappropriate because all police officers are not corrupt. Uncomprehendingly, do people really believe that an “average” individual can constantly be or witness incomprehensible injustices and continue to tolerate it repeatedly?

    Pertinently, your comment about you not being a crybaby is disgraceful, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Inquisitively, do you really think that that the fifteen year old boy, his mother, his siblings, and other family members who had to witness their father and husband on social media, being held down, unable to move, and cooperative while those two so-called police officers that took an oath to protect and serve the public shoot his dad six time at close range? Also, do you truly believe that the children and the family members of the five slain police officers that were killed in Dallas are crybabies too? Ironically, God employed an African American surgeon, who was in charge of the entire team to make every possible effort to save the lives of the injured officers, and he did so without any reservations. Incomprehensibly, there was a time when ignorance was so severe that a Caucasian would rather die than receive CPR from an African American.

    Factually, many individuals remain in denial of the ignorance and ideologies that have existed towards, not only African Americans but for many other races too. For example, Donald Trump has the audacity and the insolence to make numerous derogatory remarks concerning Hispanics, and people of the Spanish descent. However, Caucasians have caused and are responsible for millions of lynchings, deaths, murders, rapes, and not only of adults but of numerous children, which numerous are Caucasians, African American right here in the United States of America, such as Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Henry Lee Lucas, Gary Ridgeway, John Wayne Casey, Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Edmund Cullen,Patrick Wayne Kearney, Tommy Lynn Sells;The Brutal Texan, Sadyhook Elementary in Newtown, Columbine, California State University Shooting At Fullerton, Northern Illinois University, Red Lake Senior High Massacre, Aurora shooting in a movie theater in Colorado, Charleston church shooting, and the list continues extensively. Consequently, because of his actions there has been an increase in violence, deaths, and the division of the unity that we have worked and struggled diligently to improve and to make better. Unfortunately, there are numerous individuals that attempt to be critical and downsize others and other countries in means of making themselves appear better than others. Therefore, how can we criticize terrorist groups, such as ISIS until we have thoroughly cleaned our own houses (US)? However, the facts will always remain in plain sight because nothing goes unnoticed by God!

    Utmost importantly, people had better start realizing and acknowledging the promises that our Father God has made to each and every one of us, which is let vengeance be mine, and when I take it, you will be present to see it. However, if you delight in it, I will not think highly of you. Therefore, I sleep well through the entire night because I acknowledge that our Father God is going to only hold me accountable for my own actions, and not those of the wrong or evil doers.
    Conclusively, many individuals seem to think that they are of a privileged race. Factually, there is only one privileged race, which is the human race, and only one guarantee that our Father God has innately given to each an every one of us, and that is death. Advisedly, having no knowledge when nor how our deaths shall occur, we must live our lives accordingly, with utmost respect, love, compassion, caring, kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, and carefulness for others. However, there is merit, which is the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve position, praise, or reward relevant to an individuals efforts, actions, and hard work, and not relevant to the color of their skin.

    • In that case, why would “All Lives Matter” be offensive to anyone? Heck, one couldn’t possibly get any more inclusive than that.

      • It’s because “all live matter” is never used to defend all lives. Otherwise you would work to improve survival rates not just for cops, but for “thugs” too.

        • Improve survival rates for thugs, how about if you you can’t breathe, stop fighting? Or, keep you hands to yourself? There, I have done my part to increase thug survival rates.

  • Unfortunately, a lot of really nice people are being duped by the BLM. It’s an organization built on false logic and data. Of course it’s unfortunate when anyone dies unnecessarily, but the facts just don’t support the premise that Black males are shot and killed by police at a disproportionate rate. Read this recent Harvard study published this past week in the New York Times for more information. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/upshot/surprising-new-evidence-shows-bias-in-police-use-of-force-but-not-in-shootings.html?_r=0

    • It’s that subtle “you are not part of us” that’s always there in the south, a glass wall if you will.

    • BLM is not just about black deaths. It is also about black livelihoods being damaged and destroyed by iniquitable judicial and policing systems. Black lives matter, not just black deaths.

  • Does this REALLY rise to a President’s level to address?

    Dear Students, Faculty and
    Staff –

    Recently, a personal tweet by a
    member of the Student Government Association offended some people in our
    campus community. As a result, multiple requests have been made to the UH
    administration to intervene and remove this student from her SGA position.

    SGA has always been ‘of the
    students, by the students and for the students’ and UH’s system of shared
    governance does not allow administrative intervention in SGA.

    Having said that, it is our
    responsibility to maintain a culture of inclusion in which all voices are
    heard and constructive discourse is not only protected, but also encouraged.
    For example, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion has organized several
    activities to foster the engagement of respectful dialogue and education.

    The University and I stand firm on
    the values of diversity, inclusion and unity. But differences of opinion are
    the natural byproduct of such discourse, and UH remains committed to the
    principles of free and open expression. Ultimately, universities bring
    empowerment through education and understanding.

    With that in mind, I urge you to
    continue to engage in respectful discussions, behavior and activities
    regarding this matter and all such issues. Listening leads to understanding,
    understanding leads to acceptance and acceptance leads to change.

    Together, we define UH and shape its future.

    Renu Khator

    President

  • Rick Grimes, unfortunately, your response to my comment is utmost inaccurate because I was speaking to everyone that made a post, and to all of the individuals who will take the initiative to view, and to completely comprehend the statement that I wrote. However, I should have responded to your post utmost directly. Therefore, “White on White” crimes, such as the murders of their own children, parents, siblings, spouses, and numerous fellow Caucasians that have for centuries been non-compliant, and have refused to indulge and simulate to their ignorant racist ideologies, which have factually surmounted that of any other race on race crime ever committed, especially “Black on Black” crime. Unfortunately, there are racist in every aspect of every profession that exist. Therefore, many of these crimes go unnoticed or unrecognized, which results from statistics that were, and still are constructed and conducted by many individuals that possesses personal prejudices, experimental and racial biases. Fortunately, God has blessed each of us with the media, the journalist who report these stories; they make them public, and they too can be persuaded to keep certain incidents silent. However, many of them are not counted in statistics either, which makes some statistics inaccurate and invalid, which means that they are altered to appear in manner, which gives betterment over other people and races. Therefore, just because you read something in books, journals, or other types of literature does not make it of truth nor of validly. For example, the debate whether or not Caucasians possess higher IQ’s than African Americans. Comically, one of the questions, which was presented on the IQ test was in relation to a cup and a saucer, which has no relation to intelligence but is highly relative to etiquette. Additionally, Caucasians constructed the IQ test, whereas many of them were racist, and possessed many other personal prejudices and biases. Therefore, what type, or how many inaccuracies in the IQ scores do you believe that unfairly affected African Americans? However, the proof lies within the grades and the actual grade point averages of those individuals, which there are numerous unexplained inaccuracies.

    Conclusively, if we would do as the Holy Bible says, which is “Let that individual without sin cast the first stone,” then, and only then, we would be able to resolve these, and any other issues and disagreements that we may have. Life is to short to be living it with frequent hatred and discourse.

  • Black Lives Matter is just a scheme to get white people to tolerate more negro shenanigans and black on white violence on a much larger scale than there is even now.

  • I hope these ignoramuses never get a job. If I received any of these close-minded idiots’ resumes, I’d throw them in the trash. College is a total joke and a waste of time and money.

  • Sethi posts a comment that all lives matter, not only black lives, and she is labeled a racist? Does anyone see the irony that her comment is the opposite of racist?

  • Setting aside some of those who posted below to take advantage of racism, I would contend that Rohini has a right to freedom of speech and I concur that ALL lives matter. Too many are getting swept up in the overwrought emotionalism utilized by BLM. Your contention and ‘punishment’ is out of line, in my opinion, and shows a lack of research and comprehension of BLM versus other organizations that work towards racial equality without stooping to shutting down streets, defying lawful orders of police – or the even more heinous events we have seen happen in the aftermath (mass shootings of police officers, ambush calls to police, attempts to interfere with the incomes of stores (and, therefore, their employees pay), etc. You are far too arbitrary. Rohini did not say that black lives do not matter – she said all lives matter. Add to that the fact that Rohini is an Indian name and your point is ridiculous. If SGA officially takes a different stance then the adult, mature thing to do would have been to ask her to reconsider her position or step down. Or to say that the statement made by her does not reflect the official position of SGA. Whatever happened to teaching critical thinking within our colleges? Apparently it is not working so well these days.

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