Students protest Emory president's essay - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Students protest Emory president's essay

The president of Emory University is taking heat from faculty after he wrote an essay citing the three-fifths compromise on slaves as an example of finding common ground in politics.

Demonstrators staged a silent protest on Friday over a racially-charged essay by the president of Emory University.

In his "Winter Message" in Emory Magazine, James Wagner cited the citing the three-fifths compromise on slaves as an example of finding common ground in politics. In that 1787 compromise, states agreed to count three-fifths of the slave population for determining representation.

An uproar erupted after the article was published, prompting Wagner to issue an apology.

That apology failed to stop about 40 Emory students to stage a protest at the opening of a Southern Christian Leadership Conference exhibition at Woodruff Library on Friday.

The protest was meant to mirror the civil rights icons portrayed in the SCLC archive exhibit.  

Originated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the SCLC used nonviolence as a way to achieve civil rights equalities.

Protesting students said that fight is not over at Emory University.

"It's not just, "Oh there was this his racial tension,' but just in general, there's a culture of apathy and insensitivity when it comes to making decisions, when it comes to the leadership," said student Davion Colbert.

Wagner acknowledged the problems and promised change in his speech on Friday.

"Given the events of our times on this campus, I know that I personally have a long way to go. And I pledge myself toward working toward that just society that we all seek," Wagner said.

Despite that apology by the president, a number of the protestors said it was not enough. They say they have another protest planned next Wednesday.

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