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I've been quiet about the @AlexBMorse news but never have I been more ashamed to have even been slightly involved with a group in the past than I am with @UMassDems. Honestly, from what I did see during my time there, their actions are not shocking to me but they disgust me.
Story time. I was invited on a trip down to DC for a conference with several other UMass students, including the President of UMass Dems at the time (this was 2015). After a night of some drinking, I was asked to join the board (at about...2 am) and I kinda thought it was a joke.
Apparently the president of UMass Dems meant it, and offered me a position called Campaign Coordiantor or something, either way it never mattered. I quickly found out that the only reason I was extended this invitation was because at the time, the E-Board was entirely white men.
Never was I given a chance to actually do anything in this role, let alone consulted for my input. It became quickly clear that this was a position in name only so they could say they had a woman on their E-Board. Bonus points because I did stuff with Planned Parenthood.
So anyway, time passes, I quickly stop going to meetings because I had many other spaces where my input was considered and I had an actual voice. The 2016 elections happen, I turn my energy towards @BernieSanders instead. Now, here's where this story gets interesting.
It's 2017 now, and apparently the Democratic Party has become a place that's "anti-men and anti-white" (I wish). The former President, the same guy who recruited me into this position, decides to "come out" as a conservative. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/02/01/coming-out-as-conservative-why-a-college-democrat-left-the-party/
This was a pretty big deal... not only was he the UMass Dems president, but also the VP of College Dems of MA. He went on to interview with Campus Reform and many other right-wing outlets to get this story out there, links I won't post because I don't want to drive views to them.
My point is, I cannot possibly be shocked by leadership at UMass Dems continuing to uphold this toxicity. It has been widely known for years now that UMass Dems is not a place for any actual leftists, UMass has dozens of spaces for those students in so many issues-based groups.
Lastly, I fully believe that it's possible that Alex Morse has both abused his power/made people uncomfortable, AND that UMass Dems had a role in accelerating this for their own political gain. Both can be true and it's messy. I am 100% here for anyone made uncomfortable by him.
Obviously, many facts/stories are still coming out, and we may see people come forward with more accusations. Those that know me know that ending sexual violence is one of my deepest issues (as a queer survivor myself) and I will ALWAYS be here to defend & support any survivor.
