MC for the night, Gwendalynn Roebke. (Fiona Matson/CU Independent)
CU Boulder hosted BuffsUnited’s event ‘Interwoven Intersectionalities’ on Wednesday evening, focused on celebrating individual diversity. Attendees gathered in Old Main to share stories, conversations, and dance.
The event was organized in reaction to conservative commentator Ann Coulter’s appearance, known for her conservative views and inflammatory statements. Some student groups, including the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) and the Gender and Sexuality Center, felt it necessary to counteract Coulter’s provoking remarks by creating a safe, inclusive space.
As the second BuffsUnited event designed to be a counter event to a controversial speaker, WRC Director Amanda Lindsenmeyer was happy with the turn out. BuffsUnited previously countered Milo Yiannopoulos’s appearance last January. While Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano attended last year, many wished the chancellor returned again this year to listen to students’ concerns about Coulter and diversity on campus.
“We are doing the work, CU should be doing the work because [we are] tired,” said Bri Hill who identifies as a queer trans person of color.
Tamara Williams, assistant director of the WRC, said planning for this event started three weeks ago with the intention “to be a space for connection and unity.” Referencing CU’s Colorado Creed, Williams emphasized that to make successful changes or continue the conversation.
About 70 people sat in the audience awaiting performances. Dance graduate student Bonnie Cox and CU Boulder Theatre and Dance Assistant Professor Donna Mejia performed separate dance routines expressing their identity and intersectionality. Following the performances, three short films were screened, covering gender labels, undocumented status, and menstruation.
“We are not here for hate, we aren’t here to stop freedom of speech, we are here to support those who need a space to voice their anger,” MC Gwendalynn Roebke said. “And for those who do not want to directly protest outside.”
Lorraine Bayard de Volo, women and gender studies faculty member, quoted the recent Black Panther Marvel movie, “the wise build bridges, while the foolish build walls.” She continued, “bridges connect people to ways of new ideas; [Ann Coulter] is building walls.”
Junior English major Trinity Clark reflected on both events.
“I feel that people are used to it, sadly, the way our campus treats conservative guests. [With] the level of protection they receive…the university is going to keep bringing conservative views.”
After twelve performance groups, the event concluded with Mile 21 A Capella, singing Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito”. Attendees danced along in the isles.
Hill and student activist Jackson Reinagel questioned Williams on how to continue and keep campus inclusion of marginalized people going. Williams said events like the Women’s Leadership Symposium train individuals “to show up and be authentic leaders, not the white hetero-patriarchic norm.”
Williams suggested building communities around social justice for students. “Students have to have to political will to continue,” Williams said. She challenged students to continue to work on themselves, to create the spaces they want to participate in and focus less on looking for a problem to fight.
“Spend time building instead of reacting,” Williams said, and this will make it harder for administration to find fault in their actions.
Contact CU Independent News Writer Mia Gallegos at antoniamia.gallegos@colorado.edu.
