SIU students, community members, and others took to the Carbondale campus Monday to protest increasing costs for higher education, social issues and more.
The group began marching around 10:00am, carrying signs opposing racism, and highlighting other issues students and others with the administration as well as state and local leaders.
Some protesters are focusing on the cost of higher education, others on a culture of racism, still others on issues of sexual violence and more.
An anonymous group organized Monday's events, calling for a peaceful strike to shut down the university and highlight numerous issues on campus.
Administrators, who made themselves available as protesters gathered nearby, say they hope the conversations getting started as a result of the May 2 Strike will make positive changes at the university.
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Students, faculty, and staff at Southern Illinois University head back to class Monday, curious to know what the day will bring.
A group calling for a student strike chose this date for peaceful protest of high student debt, racism, sexual assault, and other issues.
Over the weekend, students, staff, and administrators released a video - aimed at racist comments that have been reported on campus over the last several weeks.
"This is a film by students, to say that hate and bigotry have no place on this campus," the video says, "Because even though our skin colors may be different, our goals are the same."
Students and others in the video say a culture of racism and fear is "not OK," and go on to say the university is about more than what has recently gained headlines.
"SIU is place of acceptance, making mistakes and learning from them, a place of growth and community collective, and growing - constant growing," others said.
The student strike organizers, who've so far remained anonymous, say they'll protest with parades and other activities on campus.
Administrators at SIU say they welcome the dialogue, and hope to continue conversations that've already started on many of the issues.
