Removal of Asa Blanton From ISU Nursing Program
To whom this may concern,
My name is Jonae Washington and I'm an Indiana native. I was born and raised in Indiana and I currently work as an inpatient Rehabilitation Tech. I work alongside nurses, doctors, therapists in multiple disciplines, specialists, aides, etc. I currently go to school at Indiana university of Indianapolis (formally known as IUPUI) studying the health and human science major.
I take pride in attending a university that is known for having quality medicinal programs to help provide quality care in many areas of healthcare to the very people that make our world go around. Over the weekend, it has come to light that a student by the name of Asa Blanton at Indiana State University in Terre Haute made some erroneous, and very harmful racial comments in regards to the black community and their ties to being apart of the "Country Culture." stating that black Americans "grandparents may have lived in the country, but they were "picking, not planting; They were being sold for money, not making money." This student is either actively in the Nursing program or completing pre-requisites to apply for the program. People who uphold this type of ideology will be a risk to minorities and POC who are in need of healthcare services. Nursing is one of the most important fields in healthcare and we need nurses who will uphold an oath to care for all and provide care to everyone, not just their preferred person.
As a Black American who has witnessed, and heard horrifying stories about the racial disparities in healthcare, it was very alarming to hear her sentiments of what she thinks Country means, and how she implicitly showed how own prejudice against Persons of colors. This type of ideology not only harms minority groups but only furthers the systemic racism displayed in healthcare when it comes to those groups. As a future nurse, prejudice and racism should not be tolerated in the field of health and human sciences. Indiana State University did nothing to assure the public and their students of color that this situation would be rectified in a manner where they will feel safe.
This petition is a Call to Action to have the Nursing program investigated by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing to determine if Indiana State University should be a school to educate and run a program such a as BSN, if they allow their nursing students to be openly racist and prejudice towards minorities, and to see if Indiana State University choose to uphold their own student code of conduct. By their blatant lack of actions, the are complicit in racism and prejudice in such an important field, opening the door for many other people who have the same beliefs as Blanton to continue to operate in spaces that are for everyone. It's important as a country that we treat people with dignity and respect despite the color of their skin.