The Direct Resistance of Privilege (DROP) Alliance

The Direct Resistance of Privilege (DROP) Alliance was established in the Spring of 2002. Founded by Danielle Miles (Clark), DROP was a Black student - led, multiracial coalition of faculty, staff and students who were  committed to confronting systemic racism and institutional oppression at Virginia Tech. DROP became a formidable organization through the use of educational workshops and teach - ins, direct action, and partnerships that extended across and beyond the campus. Key areas of concern for DROP included low recruitment/retention of Black faculty, students and staff, concerns about Virginia Tech's controversial abandonment of affirmative action policies in 2003, instances of Blackface on and around the campus, racially inflammatory op-eds in the Collegiate Times, and the campus community's response to the recent adoption, at that time, of the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. In addition to hosting galvanizing spaces where community members could share their deepest concerns and strategize with others to create institutional change, DROP often confronted university administration directly, requesting opportunities to meet and elevate the issues shared by their constituents and allies. When the office of the campus chapter of the NAACP was defaced, DROP responded by presenting university administration with a list  of demands that were later articulated as the  Progressive Action Toward Humanity (PATH) pledge. This campaign, whose slogans included "stop hatin', and "hate stops here" was envisioned as a commitment each member of the VT community would be called to embody on campus and beyond. It is in the PATH Pledge that we find the roots of Virginia Tech's Principles of Community, which were affirmed by the institution in 2005. 

Original Text of the Progressive Action Against Humanity (PATH) List of Demands/Pledge:

I believe that every person is entitled to dignity, respect and opportunity, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, color, political ideology, educational attainment, sexual orientation, transgendered identity, economic status, ability or national origin. 

I believe that every thought or act of prejudice, discrimination, exploitation, and oppression is harmful; if it is my thought or act it is harmful to myself as well as others. 

Therefore from this day forward, I will strive daily to eliminate prejudice, discrimination, exploitation and oppression from my thoughts and actions. 

I will discourage prejudice, discrimination, exploitation and oppression by others at every opportunity.

I will treat all people with dignity and respect and will equip myself with the language, knowledge and resources necessary to honor this pledge each day. 

Founding and notable members: 
Danielle Miles (Clark)
Takiyah Nur Amin
Blair Fornville (Durham) 
Emenike La
Shawn Braxton
Darryl McCoy
Ellington Graves
April Mayes
Laura Agnich