December 9, 2019

Dear Fellow Commodores,

THIS IS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE VANDERBILT COMMUNITY (STAFF, FACULTY, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, ETC.) TO SIGN.
 
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, GROUPME, EMAIL, ETC.

The ultimate goal is to send the letter below the dotted line to the Vanderbilt Board of Trustees with signatories from the Vanderbilt community as soon as possible.

As members of the community, we can play an important role with our strength in numbers to persuade the Vanderbilt administration to rescind its offer to Diermeier to become our 9th Chancellor.

In Solidarity,
Connor VanAllman, Alum, Class of 2016
Télyse Masaoay, Alum, Class of 2019

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Dear Vanderbilt University Board of Trustees:

We write as members of the Vanderbilt University community to demand that you rescind your offer to Daniel Diermeier to become our ninth Chancellor. We discuss the three primary reasons for our demand below, which are 1) Diermeier’s commitments to profits over people, 2) Diermeier’s union-busting reputation, and 3) our community’s need for more diverse leadership.

1. Diermeier’s Commitment to Profits over People

Through his writing, Diermeier has demonstrated that he values profits over people. For example, Diermeier co-wrote Corporate Reputation and Social Activism, in which he  characterizes activists primarily as threats to corporations’ profits. In this book, he writes in no uncertain terms: “We conclude, though, that the activist’s presence is not unambiguously positive for society.”

Diermeier’s perspective regarding peaceful, democratic activists runs counter to our community’s values of service to society. As a community, we affirm that activists have been responsible for some of our society’s most necessary, transformative changes, through organizing like the Labor Movement and the Civil Rights Movement.

In our next Chancellor, we expect a candidate who values the contributions of peaceful, democratic activists, including those of our own campus’ student activists, over corporate profits. In this regard, we have no confidence in Diermeier.

2. Diermeier’s Union-Busting Reputation

As Provost of the University of Chicago, Diermeier was the face of the University of Chicago administration’s anti-union campaign against its own graduate workers, after the graduate workers (under their self-selected name Graduate Students United “GSU”) won their union by more than a 2-to-1 margin in a free and fair election. Instead of sitting down at the negotiation table with GSU, Diermeier chose to hide behind the Trump-appointed National Labor Relations Board in an attempt to overturn graduate workers’ federal right to engage in union organizing. In an email to the University of Chicago community on June 6, 2019, Diermeier seemed to threaten graduate workers engaged in union organizing, stating: “[V]arious schools and divisions are considering enhancements to student financial support, such as sixth-year funding. Such improvements may have to stop if the University were to recognize a union.” Commenting on Diermeier’s departure from the University of Chicago, the UChicago Labor Council, which is made up of university janitors, nurses, teachers, CNAs, lecturers, graduate workers, engineers, secretaries, transporters and others, tweeted, “Daniel Diermeier was a national disgrace.”

We unequivocally condemn Diermeier’s anti-union tactics. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned that Diermeier, in his capacity as Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, would resort to such shameful anti-union tactics again at our own university in the event some of our workers exercise their federal right to engage in union organizing.

We demand that our next Chancellor abide by our community’s tenets of democracy, free speech, and respect for workers’ rights, and in this regard, we have no confidence in Diermeier.

3. Our Community’s Need for More Diverse Leadership

Representation matters. When people from diverse backgrounds see themselves in people who hold positions of authority in our society, it helps all of us imagine a vision for our lives in which we could achieve our dreams, regardless of our backgrounds.  

In its decision to appoint the next Chancellor, the Vanderbilt University Board of Trustees has an opportunity to send a strong message to the global community that the Vanderbilt community values the contributions of all kinds of people from diverse backgrounds. Instead, the Vanderbilt Board of Trustees chose someone who looks a lot like every Chancellor Vanderbilt University has had since 1875.

We want meaningful diversity in our leadership, and that means having the courage and integrity to select a Chancellor from a more diverse background than Diermeier’s.

We, the undersigned, demand that the Vanderbilt University Board of Trustees rescind its offer to Daniel Diermeier as our university’s ninth Chancellor and consider from its broad pool of applicants a candidate better suited to respect our community’s values of service to society, democracy, and diversity.

Anchor Down,
Connor VanAllman, Alumni, Class of 2016
Télyse Masaoay, Alumni, Class of 2019
Henry Utset, Alum, Class of 2019
Madison Brown, Alum, Class of 2019
McKalee Steen, Current student, Class of 2020
Sara Starr, Alum, Class of 2018
Madison Gerdes, Current student, Class of 2017
Kaitlin Spear, Alum, Class of 2016
Julie Jones, Alum, Class of 2019
Farah Arif, Alum, Class of 2019
Nisha Naseer, Current student, Class of 2021
Jenna Collazzo, Current student, Class of 2021
Emma Dwyer, Alum, Class of 2018
Logan Keller, Alum, Class of 2017
Edie Duncan , Current student, Class of 2021
Juliana Horn, Alum, Class of 2018
Andrew Legan, Alum, Class of 2015
Nicole Baptista, Alum, Class of 2018
Mathew Chvasta, Current student, Class of 2022
Aaditi Naik, Alum, Class of 2018
Katherine Means, Alum, Class of 2019
Lisa Owens, Current student, Class of 2022
Azia Jackson, Current student, Class of 2020
Hannah Hickman, Current student
Otobong Udofia, Current student, Class of 2023
Bryce Beddard, Current student, Class of Fall 2019
Sophia Clark, Current student, Class of 2023
Tyler Knickerbocker, Alum, Class of 2018
Aditya Gokhale, Current student, Class of 2021
Daniel Crabb, Current student, Class of 2022
Jalen Kobayashi, Current student, Class of 2023
Eric Mitchell III, Current student, Class of 2021
Tyler Easley, Current student, Class of 2020
Hale Masaki, Current student
Bryce Palmer, Current student, Class of 2022
Musa Subramaniam, Current student, Class of 2021
Tyjah Johnson, Current student, Class of 2022
Lindsey feinstein, Alum, Class of 2017
Alma Farooque, Alum, Class of 2017
Ekene Azuka, Current student, Class of 2021
Madison Edwards, Current student, Class of 2021
Lena Robertson, Current student, Class of 2021
Nikita Thomas, Alum, Class of 2017
Lee S Schmidt, Alum, Class of 2018
Ajike Sumpter, Alum
Morenike Ibidapo, Current student, Class of 2020
Adebisi Bamidele, Current student, Class of 2021
Monica Alonso, Current student, Class of 2022
Kellia Love, Current student, Class of 2023
Thomas Maertens, Current student, Class of 2020
Alex Wolfe, Alum, Class of 2018
Anana Upton, Current student, Class of 2021
Jamie Fisher, Current student, Class of 2021
Gbemi Soyebo, Current student
Brandon McBay, Alum, Class of 2018
Lizzie Carsello, Current student, Class of 2020
Arianna Yarritu, Alum, Class of 2016
Yasmina Haddad, Current student, Classes of 2017 & 2021
Chloe Davis, Current student, Class of 2021
Michael Maerlender, Alum, Class of 2019
Maria Linn-Evans, Alum, Class of 2016
Analia Mireles , Alum, Class of 2019
Shelby House, Alum, Class of 2017
Keshav Kundassery , Current student, Class of 2021
Asad Pabani, Alum, Class of 2017
Mark Karle, Alum, Class of 2017
Lauren Meisel, Alum, Class of 2019
Amy Sweeney, Alum, Class of 2017
Rachel Norsby, Current student, Class of 2021
Emily Schafer, Alum, Class of 2018
Samuel Trump, Current student, Class of 2016
Tori Trout, Alum, Class of 2015
Alejah Love, Current student, Class of 2021
Jeremy Rosenstock, Current student, Class of 2019
Mimi Fang, Alum, Class of 2018
Molly Moreau, Alum, Class of 2016
Jad El Harake, Alum, Class of 2018
Caroline Lee, Current student, Class of 2021
Olivia Pembridge, Current student, Class of 2022
Morgan Cornacchini, Alum, Class of 2019
Lila Meretzky, Current student, Class of 2020
Adithya Sivakumar, Alum, Class of 2018
Christopher Swafford, Current student, Class of 2021
Betty Chang, Alum, Class of 2019
Diana Charlop, Alum, Class of 2019
Adriana Calderon, Current student, Class of 2020
Katie McMurray, Alum, Class of 2018
Troy Morrow, Alum, Class of 2018
Rahan Arasteh, Current student, Class of 2023
Skyler Froese, Current student, Class of 2021
Madagan Riley, Alum, Class of 2016
J. Alex Pulliam, Alum, Class of 2018
Lily G Williams, Alum, Class of 2018
Andrew Jordan, Alum, Class of 2018
Rose Nguyen, Current student, Class of 2021
Max Rackoff, Alum, Class of 2015
Joyce Hwang, Alum, Class of 2018
Josanda Addo, Current student, Class of 2022
Devon Shewell, Current student, Class of 2022
Paul Snider, Alum, Class of 2016
Emma Wheat, Current student, Class of 2023
Kira Coan, Current student, Class of 2023
Brandy Bonczek, Alum, Class of 2017
Rishi Mallipeddi , Current student, Class of 2020
Kelsey Brown, Current student, Class of 2021
Rachel Nevett, Current student, Class of 2020
Jasmin Norford , Current student, Class of 2021
Victoria Findlen, Current student, Class of 2020
Ben Dover, Current student, Class of 2021
Bethany Howard, Alum, Class of 2018
Arley Concaildi, Alum, Class of 2018
Megan Mitchell, Current student, Class of 2020
Elise Reimschisel, Current student, Class of 2021
Chanteria Milner, Current student
Ryan Froehling, Alum, Class of 2016
Ben Dabney, Alum, Class of 2019
Anna Smith, Alum, Class of 2017
Grace Oladapo, Current student, Class of 2023
Olivia Donofrio, Current student, Class of 2022
Literrius Miller, Current student, Class of 2023
Chelsea Ankenbrandt, Alum, Class of 2019
Joshua Everett, Alum, Class of 2015
William Cox, Alum, Class of 2017
Tristen Gittens, Current student, Class of 2023
Niya Newell, Current student, Class of 2023
Kimani Coye, Current student, Class of 2023
Rebecca Dubin, Current student, Class of 2023
Cole Jackson, Current student, Class of 2021
Kerissa Bryant, Current student, Class of 2023
Becca Williams, Alum, Class of 2017
Zakiya Mensah, Current student, Class of 2023
Cierra lyons, Current student, Class of 2023
Maia Thornton, Current student, Class of 2020
Sheuli Chowdhury, Alum, Class of 2019
Nafula kato, Alum, Class of 2018
Paul Kim, Alum, Class of 2018
Rachel Smith, Alum
Owen Hanna, Alum, Class of 2017
Maya Krause, Current student
Dayana Espinoza, Current student, Class of 2021
Brooke Gest, Current student, Class of 2021
Alex Korsunsky, Current student
Carlissa Arrow, Current student, Class of 2021
Andrew Magnus, Alum, Class of 2019
Annie Bradford , Alum, Class of 2018
Robert Travis, Alum, Class of 2018
Andrew Haygood , Alum, Class of 2019
Sophia Lee, Current student, Class of 2020
Ellie Sona, Alum, Class of 2019
Bo Broder, Current student, Class of 2020
Justin Westley, Alum, Class of 2018
Taylor Evans, Alum, Class of 2019
Yuthika Gundamaraju, Current student, Class of Fall 2019
Anna Word, Alum, Class of 2018
Zhar Brassfield-Hall, Current student, Class of 2020
Nathan Frisch, Current student
Lannawill Caruth , Current student, Class of 2023
Aimee Alexander, Alum, Class of 2019
Stephanie Coelho, Alum, Class of 2019
Maren Wilder, Alum, Class of 2019
Kathy Yuan, Current student, Class of 2019
Laura Woodwick, Alum, Class of 2015
Maggie Zeillmann, Alum, Class of 2017
Hamzah Raza, Alum, Class of 2018
Justin Banks, Current student, Class of 2020
Samantha Heller, Alum, Class of 2019
Sydney Silberman, Alum, Class of 2018
Olivia Steinmetz, Current student, Class of 2020
Chiaki Santiago, Alum, Class of 2019
Gregory Bernstein, Alum, Class of 2017
Alice Zhao, Alum, Class of 2019
Dallas Shatel, Alum, Class of 2019
Asha Bynum, Alum, Class of 2017
Erika Nelson, Current student, Class of 2021
Robyn Du, Alum, Class of 2018
Thomas Shannan, Alum, Class of 2017
Will McCollum, Alum, Class of 2015
Shreya Karak, Alum, Class of 2019
Chara Lynn, Alum, Class of 2019
Beatrice Mhando , Current student, Class of 2022
Nafula kato, Alum, Class of 2018
Sofia Ramirez Starkey, Current student, Class of 2022
Noah Trump, Alum, Class of 2016
Joshua Villatuya, Current student, Class of 2022
Travis Josephs, Current student, Class of 2021
Erin Hardnett, Current student, Class of 2021
Emma Sona, Alum, Class of 2019
Brynn Demers, Current student, Class of 2022
Sander Fess, Current student, Class of 2022
Leeann Watson, Current student, Class of 2022
Emily Cooper, Current student, Class of 2021
Sophia Zimmerman, Current student, Class of 2022
Sreeja Kondeti, Alum, Class of 2019
Kelly Stewart , Current student, Class of 2021
Sara Chaker, Current student, Class of 2022
Bhaavya Srivastava, Alum, Class of 2018
Mary Smith, Alum, Class of 2018
Katrina Poon, Current student, Class of 2022
Lilia Briskin, Alum, Class of 2019
Kate Laraway, Current student, Class of 2022
Nia Brown, Current student, Class of 2022
Basil Dababneh, Alum, Class of 2018
Alex Feeley, Current student, Class of 2022
Kaylee Kohlmaier, Alum, Class of 2018
James W Owen, Alum, Class of 2019
Riley Beal, Current student, Class of 2020
Kaylin Davis, Current student, Class of 2022
Paige Warren, Current student, Class of 2021
Kellie Smith , Alum, Class of 2018
Janae Steen, Current student, Class of 2022
Hannah Salaverry , Current student, Class of 2020
Wayne Kuang, Alum, Class of 2017
Emre Kanli, Current student, Class of 2020
Tristan Abbott, Alum, Class of 2017
Kristen Wright, Current student, Class of 2022
Marion Shaina, Alum, Class of 2019
Katherine Deegan, Current student, Class of 2021
Lauren Krzystowczyk, Current student, Class of 2020
Charlie Fei, Alum, Class of 2018
Madelyn Lee, Current student, Class of 2020
Lydia Yousief , Alum, Class of 2017
Simon Pompan, Current student, Class of 2022
Phyllis Johnson, Current student, Class of 2021
Hassan Hassan, Current student, Class of 2020
Ethan Shifrin, Current student, Class of 2022
Cynthia Loviska, Alum
Jacob Mountain, Current student, Class of 2020
Emily McRen, Alum, Class of 2018
Mike Hunt, Alum, Class of 2020
Jaylen martinez, Current student, Class of 2021
Heywood Jablowme, Alum, Class of 2016
Phil McCracken , Current student, Class of 2022
Madison Lindeman, Alum, Class of 2019
Xavier Williams, Alum, Class of 2018
Hugh Jasol, Alum, Class of 2018
Daniel Gorczynski, Alum, Class of 2018
Anuja Mehta, Current student, Class of 2021
Eugenia Zavaleta, Current student
Nathan Raju, Current student, Class of 2022
Geena Ildefonso , Current student, Class of 2021
Jamal Marcelin , Alum, Class of 2017
Brandi Bryson, Current student, Class of 2020
Danielle Cole, Alum, Class of 2018
Michelle Lei, Alum, Class of 2018
Chloe Wilks, Alum, Class of 2018
Courtney Sanders, Current student, Class of 2021
Kelly Carr, Current student, Class of 2020
Keagan Chronister, Alum, Class of 2019
Ethan Conner, Alum, Class of 2018
Jordyn Purvins, Alum, Class of 2019
 Chelsey Dyer, Current student, Class of 2021
Christia Victoriano, Current student, Class of 2021
Sarah Monica, Current student, Class of 2020
Allison Bireley, Current student, Class of 2022
Chelsea Yip, Alum, Class of 2018
Meredith Mattlin, Alum, Class of 2018
Katherine Peplow, Alum, Class of 2019
Madison Fitzgerald, Alum, Class of 2018
Dallas Wilson , Current student, Class of 2020
Mary Casey, Alum, Class of 2018
Clare Dreyfus, Alum, Class of 2015
Tahoe Kim, Current student, Class of 2022
Raegan Harrison, Current student, Class of 2020
Lauren Hurley, Alum, Class of 2018
Abigail Kelati, Alum, Class of 2019
Mae Cohen, Current student, Class of 2021
Elena Pokowitz, Alum and Current Student, Classes of 2019 and 2020
Jackie Miller, Alum, Class of 2019
Mae Cohen, Current student, Class of 2021
Morgan Kinney, Current student, Class of 2020
Nell Koneczny, Alum, Class of 2014
Erin Hardnett, Alum, Class of 2019
Maya Martin-Gonzalez, Current student, Class of 2020
Riley Crabtree, Alum, Class of 2014
Holly Therrell, Alum, Class of 2018
Regan Siems, Current student, Class of 2021
Rachel Anand, Alum, Class of 2018
Jordan M. Jensen, Alum, Class of 2016
Connor Hayes , Friend of alum
Almaz Mesghina, Alum, Class of 2016
Lou Sasshol, Current student, Class of 2021
Michael Zuch, Alum, Class of 2016
Analrag Dikshit, Current student, Class of 2020
Scott Rogers, Alum, Class of 2018
Lauren Mitchell, Alum, former staff, current graduate student, Class of 2021
Lucas Kunsman, Alum, Class of 2014
Steven McIntyre, Alum, Class of 2016
Rachael Simone, Alum, Class of 2018
Emily Vega, Current student, Class of 2021
Zach Gospe, Alum, Class of 2018
Seungyeon Jung, Alum, Class of 2019
Ivan Biggs, Alum, Class of 2016
James A Weiny, Jr, Current student, Class of 2021
Nico Gardner Serna, Current student, Class of 2020
Abbey Carlson, Current student, Class of 2020
Madeline Meloy, Alum, Class of 2019
Siri Nadler, Current student, Class of 2020
Joshua Hunt, Current student, Class of 2023
Ryan Capps, Alum, Class of 2019
Henry Bristol, Alum, Class of 2019
Natalie Reisman, Current student, Class of 2022
Harrison Yan, Alum, Class of 2019
Lauren Stewart , Current student, Class of 2022
Miquéla Thornton , Current student, Class of 2022
Juliana Anuakpado, Current student, Class of 2023
Emem Okpokowuruk, Current student, Class of 2021
Travis Wilkinson, Current student, Class of 2022
Genesis Allen, Alum, Class of 2019
Austin Hoag, Current student, Class of 2021
Zoe Pehrson, Current student, Class of 2021
Sabrina Bradford, Alum, Class of 2018
Stephanie Turrentine, Alum, Class of 2019
Jenny Kim, Alum, Class of 2016
Christopher Elliott, Current student, Class of 2021
Francesca Ambrose, Alum, Class of 2017
Phil Hawkins, Alum, Class of 2017
Cortez Johnson, Current student, Class of 2020
Mark Hines, Alum, Class of 2018
Ellen Heiman, Alum, Class of 2017
(additional signatories)