About Us

We as Spectrum are aware that the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict is impacting our students. The suffering and harm that is felt by our Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, and Arab students is something we are dedicated to recognizing and validating. We do not support dehumanization, demonizing, or violence against anyone. We hope to support all students and identities that come through our doors.

Spectrum recognizes the vulnerability of Palestinian students on Miami’s campus. Spectrum is not against Jewish self-governance, Jewish people's safety, Jewish cultural identity, or Israeli people. Instead, we are against the current state of Israel’s colonization of Palestine. 

To be clear, there is nothing unique about Palestine's colonization. It is the result of white Europeans, in this case, the British government, claiming a territory which is not theirs. This initial colonization was not the fault of the Jewish people. The distinction that makes Palestinian colonization worthy of its own place in our constitution is that the colonization is modern, ongoing, and has been made relevant to our organization through conversations which occurred within our walls. Palestine, while having no centralized government, still exists in small pockets and is being persecuted by the Israeli government’s military. We are not siding with any governmental force, we are simply supporting Palestinian people. 

We recognize that Jewish students are also a vulnerable population, and Jewish individuals are not responsible for the colonization of Palestine. Some individuals and groups use conversations surrounding Zionism and anti-Zionism to hide their anti-Semitism. Spectrum does not align with these people. We will just as soon address anti-Semitic rhetoric in our spaces as we will colonialism. 

Spectrum values diversity of the students within our group. All Jewish students and students who are pro-Israel are absolutely allowed and welcome in our spaces. However, we do not allow pro-colonialist rhetoric in our spaces, regardless of its origin or justification. Spectrum values collaboration with other organizations that represent different marginalized groups on campus. This includes Jewish student groups, which Spectrum seeks to partner with, as long as the collaborative programming does not involve advocacy for the Israeli government or other colonialist advocacy. 

Amended 2022: This amendment was edited and expanded upon with the aid and approval of Hillel at Miami University in order to ensure that all information held herein is as accurate and unbiased as possible. Feel free to consult Spectrum via email if further information is desired or needed.

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While anti-Indigenous sentiment very clearly falls under the anti-racism section, further clarification is here granted in order to ensure that many facets through which it can be expressed are directly addressed.

Often, in LGBTQIA+ spaces, there is a strong desire to appeal to historical gender and sexual variance as a source of pride. This becomes an issue when it bleeds into non-Indigenous people feeling ownership over Indigenous culture or identity. Further, much anti-Indigenous sentiment enters queer spaces solely due to people with anti-Indigenous ideals, intentional or not, entering queer spaces. We maintain a duty to acknowledge the colonization around which its queer community has formed, along with ensuring that no further harm is perpetuated against Indigenous people, both within our walls, and outside, wherever such an effort is possible. Miami University was founded on occupied Myaamia land, and as such, any efforts towards advocacy must also confront the atrocities which were committed which resulted in the physical space we meet within. Indigenous suffrage is ongoing, and trying to stop anti-Indigenous sentiment is not just an issue of historical accuracy or respect, but also one of modern advocacy for marginalized peoples.

Our maintenance of this duty includes, but is not limited to, an effort to stop misinformation, appropriation, hate speech, and acts of malice towards Indigenous peoples from entering our spaces, along with an effort to engage in conversations and education about such matters wherever they may arise.