‘Anti-Thanksgiving’ potluck sparks controversy on UVA campus
An “anti-Thanksgiving potluck” planned for Monday night is stirring controversy on the University of Virginia (UVA) campus.
The event, hosted by the American Indian Student Union (AISU), aims to “discuss Thanksgiving from a Native American perspective” over a potluck dinner.
Students at the University of Virginia are holding an ‘anti-Thanksgiving’ potluck on Monday night.
The anti-Thanksgiving celebration will provide a “contrast…with the typical American view of Thanksgiving,” AISU president Katelyn Krause promised an NBC affiliate.
Krause declined an interview with Campus Reform.
Nicole Bailey, Executive-in-Chief of the conservative newspaper, The Virginia Advocate, however, told Campus Reform that she understands the intent of the group’s potluck, but disagrees with this particular event as a means to convey their message.
“They think that by doing events that put down what people understand to be modern American’s realization of the American dream and American story is a way to raise awareness about the less glamorous parts of America’s history,” said Bailey.
“That’s frankly not true,” she added.
Marian Anderfursen, Director of Media Relations for UVA, told Campus Reform that the university encourages such political dialogue on campus.
“Our students are engaged in issues and they explore a lot of different ideas and we support that,” she said.
According to their website, one of AISU’s primary objectives is to provide “an American Indian point-of-view by participating in campus debates on diversity and voicing support concerns on actions of both student government and the University administration.”
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