Earlier today, The Skidmore News reported that Wesley Yang, an outspoken transphobe, was scheduled to speak at “Are We All Fundamentalists?” a conference being held to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Salmagundi magazine. Following several appeals to involved parties, including the Salmagundi editorial board and President Conner, we have received confirmation as of 5:00 pm that Mr. Yang has withdrawn from the conference.
I noticed Wesley Yang’s name on the list of attendees a few days ago. I was vaguely aware of his connection to right-wing politics, but little else. Last night, however, I took a look at his recent work and was shocked to find anti-transgender vitriol in numerous articles and Tweets. In light of this, I contacted the Skidmore Pride Alliance as well as a number of administrative figures with the ability to affect change, carefully collecting and sending records of Yang’s views in numerous emails; these correspondences evolved into the aforementioned article. The Pride Alliance (with special thanks to Amanda Denney, Leo Kett, Cassie Handler, Daniel Cotlar, Elise Burton, Lillian Culver-Anderson, Lorelei Heuer, and Virgil Sharon) mobilized, coordinating a plan to protest the event within an hour of being informed. By morning, news of Mr. Yang’s attendance had spread across campus, and by mid-afternoon gained further attention through our publication. (I also would like to thank our Co-Editor-in-Chief, Sruti Ramaswamy, for taking the time to collaborate with and edit this story during the early hours of the morning).
Through open and honest communication with Pam and Robert Boyers, Salmagundi Magazine’s Executive Directors, it became clear that the periodical was not aware of Mr. Yang’s recent rhetoric. Salmagundi had invited him to speak based on previous contributions to the literary field, those of which were not bigoted and had received critical acclaim. In response to learning of Yang’s shift to transphobic discourse, and substantial advocacy by the student body, including DEI Director Hillary Montague-Asp, Yang withdrew from the conference, one day before its scheduled start.
In my original article, I argued that the need to protest Mr. Yang’s appearance was a matter of the student body’s collective dignity, on the principle of standing up against and challenging hatred towards members of our community. Yang’s withdrawal shows that the student body, the administration, and our professors are truly committed to said dignity. Today, I am - and hope our readers are, as well - proud to be a Thoroughbred.