"There has been a series of racist and homophobic incidents that culminated in a feeling of fear," Smith student Maria Velazquez told the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Velazquez is head of MULCH, the multicultural organization that sponsored the rally.
Prior to the rally, a student found the words "Die, Dyke, Die," written on her message board on the door of her room.
According to Smith student Sheela Rao, there was another incident in which a group of white students called public safety to report that a student, whom they claimed had been banned from the residence, was in the dormitory and should therefore be required to leave. The student was the partner of an African-American woman in the same dorm. Public safety, which is the only office which has the authority to ban students from residences, responded to the report without checking if the student had, in fact, been banned.
Two Hispanic students spoke at the rally about being called an ethnic slur by a college employee in their dormitory. Other black and Hispanic students talked about being targeted by white students in class and in the dining halls, and said they regularly felt uncomfortable and unwelcome on campus.
Velazquez said the purpose of the rally, which included white, black, Hispanic, Asian American and American Indian speakers, was to promote equity and diversity, according to the Gazette.
Carol Christ, who will take over as president of Smith in June, was on campus the day of the rally and addressed the students.
"This has been painful but important to hear," said Christ. "I am very concerned with the evident problem. It is abhorrent to me. Racism and homophobia have no place in this society."
Prior to the rally, another group of students at Smith, the Students Grassroots Organizing Group (SGOG), had organized to discuss the recent incidents of racism and homophobia, and the issues more generally. They drafted a five-page list of demands, which they presented to the administration before the rally. They complained that administrators had not addressed quickly enough the allegations of racism and homophobia.
"It's frustrating that yet again we are telling the administration how to do its job," said Rao, a member of the group who helped write the demands. "We'd like to see [the administration] take a more proactive role."
"We need to respond to things better than we have been doing," said acting president John Connolly at the rally.
Connolly also referred to the demands as a "list of very important suggestions."
The SGOG demanded, among other things, the hiring of a "task force of race consultants to [decide upon] and implement anti-racism training," a return to "need-blind" admission and financial aid, which was terminated in 1998.
They demanded that Smith create a residence for students of color and international students and that the College require all students to take a class on race and ethnicity in order to graduate.
The creation of a dozen new independent departments including Asian American studies, Jewish and Arab studies, Native American studies and gender and sexuality studies was also one of the demands.
"I don't think there is anything [in the list of demands] that is too much too ask for," said Rao. "The College needs to commit time, energy and resources to make Smith a place where people want to be."
The students asked the administrators to consider their demands and respond by April 18.
The administration complied with this request and has held a three meetings with top administrators and several students on the negotiating committee of the SGOG. Each demand was addressed one-by-one.
"The sessions have been very productive," said Chief Public Affairs Officer Ann Shanahan, who has attended all of the meetings. "We're in good shape."
Shanahan added that each demand is being taken very seriously, and that some of the demands, such as the additional training for residential life staff, are already under way.
Some of the demands however, such as the creation of new academic departments and the required class on race and ethnicity, are up to the faculty, not the administration, to decide.
Christ has already agreed to bring the issue of the mandatory race and ethnicity class to the faculty for a vote when she takes over as president.
Since the rally, the SGOG has held an information session about the list of demands, which was sent to all students and faculty. There were about 90 students in attendance and it took the form of a panel discussion.
"Some people are definitely talking about [the issues outlined in the list of demands]," said Rao. "There are a lot of opinions flying around, but there is also a lot of support."