The #SikesSitIn is a peaceful protest that exemplifies all that its protestors are asking for. The steps of Sikes have turned into our new Gantt Political and Multicultural Center, holding open dialogues and cultural activities in a space that helps people of differing backgrounds come together to learn about and support one another. Our current center is not well-known, and neither are the issues surrounding this sit-in. This protest is not just about bananas, and that’s the problem.

Protestors are asking for a necessary change in the way that diversity is treated on campus, in our recruiting practices, in our communication and in our views.

President Clements and his administration will be having dialogues on these issues this week, but there are already dialogues happening on the steps of Sikes. There, the Clemson Family exists. You can join in on these dialogues and understand what it means to belong to said family; it means living in an accepting, concerned, inclusive, informed, forward-thinking community. One that does #SeetheStripes.

You can join the peaceful protest at Sikes Hall. You can support protestors on social media. You can join campus dialogues. What will you do? That’s up to you. What will President Clements do? That’s up to him. What will the protestors and supporters do? All that is within their power in order to enact necessary change.

Learn more about #SeetheStripes and the protesters’ grievances before joining the discussion. Find information at http://seestripescu.org/ and through their Facebook page, The Stripes: Clemson University.