Dear Hamilton Campus Community,
“Those who organized a vigil [Sunday April 14]”, otherwise known as Questbridge, the Justice and Equity Committee of SGA, SMART, CIF, FCC, GSU, Green Apple, and the Disabled Students Network, feel as if President Wippman’s announcement of Basil Brown’s death had “insufficient energy” to address the situation. We appreciate the response, but we feel it fell short and came too late, after the labor of organizing our community vigil was already forced onto the shoulders of mourning student leaders.
First of all, painting Basil Brown’s inability to navigate Hamilton’s campus with a disability as anything other than a systemic issue with Hamilton’s inaccessible campus directly contradicts their legacy and their personal experience. Administration neglects the needs of disabled students by “claiming” that Hamilton is accessible because it is in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, Hamilton circumvents the ADA because Hamilton is not federally funded and has historically protected buildings that do not have to undergo renovations. Portraying Basil’s struggles with accessibility on this campus as a personal problem or a result of COVID-19 is ableist and is a form of victim-blaming. This victim-blaming was further perpetuated by mentioning Basil’s contraction of COVID-19, but neglecting that Basil contracted COVID-19 toward the beginning of the Spring 2022 semester, the semester during which the only requirement to return to campus was an image of a negative COVID rapid test and 157 students tested positive in the first week of classes.
Second of all, this announcement comes nearly a week after many student groups on campus sent out our own announcement, showing a passive reaction to student’s outcry for accountability and communication. Students were forced to share news of the event by communicating with each other. Students in mourning repeatedly needed to inform their peers, professors, and bosses about a triggering and emotionally heavy situation. Faculty and staff received no resources on how to sensitively discuss matters related to mental health in classes despite many students being in a vulnerable state and easily triggered.
Student organizations largely led by Basil’s grieving friends planned and executed a vigil, with little to no administrative support or attendance. The resources sent in the email include the Counseling Center and the Student Support Care Team. The Counseling Center only has minimal virtual appointments available for the rest of the semester and the Student Support Care Team is equally busy and unreliable. Even with this acknowledgment, no additional resources have been offered to help students adjust and process. It is too late and it is not enough.
President Wippman, as you called for in your announcement, we will keep supporting each other. Because you give us no other choice. Hamilton Community, please know we, Basil’s friends and those who are left on our own to support each other, do not find President Wippman’s addressing of the situation to be enough. We demand accountability for Hamilton’s inaccessibility, lack of transparency, and unwillingness to designate effective resources for student support in times of crisis. Basil does not deserve to be disrespected by Hamilton’s administration in both life and death.
If you need mental health resources, there are off campus resources hyperlinked here on The Spectator website.
With love and solidarity,
Hannah Jablons ’24, Lucy Naughton ’24, Dani Bernstein ’24, Emily Weinstein ’24, Henry Gooding ’24, Hollis Mann ’24, and Raymond Ni ’24.
Friends of Basil Brown
