By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
The outspoken Providence Student Union is planning another demonstration.
The PSU will gather on Thursday afternoon in Providence’s Burnside Park and venture to the Rhode Island Department of Education with “candles, dirges and other symbols of grief” for a tongue-in-cheek vigil. In a news release, the PSU says vigil will “mourn” the “death” of Education Commissioner Deborah Gist’s reputation, following her refusal to debate the PSU on the NECAP exam and graduation requirements.
UPDATE: The PSU issued an apology on Tuesday afternoon, calling the tone of their previous news release a “mistake.”
“We should not have made this a personal issue about your reputation,” wrote a representative for the PSU in a note to Gist. “It should not be a personal issue at all.”
The PSU went on to say they take responsibility for their mistake and apologize.
In a letter sent to the PSU before this apology was made, Gist noted that she met with members of the PSU earlier in May, and “respectfully declined” the invitation to debate.
“The Board of Regents approved the Diploma System and the graduation requirements in 2008, and again in their current form in 2011, following a process of extensive public debate and a series of public hearings,” wrote Gist in a letter dated May 20. “The Diploma System has been in place now for several years, and a debate on its merits would serve no public purpose at this time. Of course you are free to express your views on our Diploma System in any forum that you choose. “
Gist went on to say that she “sincerely commends” the PSU for their advocacy, and said she would be “honored” to join them in a public forum to discuss how they can work together.
The PSU has previously staged a zombie march, a “State of the Student” address and an adult NECAP testing day. NECAP test results from last year show that nearly 4,000 students are in danger of not receiving their diplomas.
|
|
Kim Kalunian
