Call To Action
To the University School of Milwaukee Administration:
We are a concerned group of parents and current and former University School of Milwaukee students. We are writing to express our support for Kelly and Craig Robinson and their children, and specifically for the courageous actions they have taken to hold the school accountable for its racial intolerance and failure to live up to its stated values.
What happened to the Robinsons defies any notion of the “supportive, inclusive community” USM claims to foster, and in fact reveals quite the opposite. It is telling that it was only after the Robinsons expressed concerns about racial insensitivity, insensitivity toward underrepresented students, and the lack of inclusiveness at USM that the School informed them that their children were no longer welcome at USM. This can only be viewed as retaliation against the Robinsons, with their sons left to suffer the consequences. At its most essential level, a school – especially one that regularly invokes the admirable principles at the core of its “Common Trust” – is supposed to protect and nurture its students and set an example for good conduct. Vindictively retaliating against students for the good faith actions of their parents is in stark contrast to what we entrusted USM to do, and USM must be held to account.
The toxic culture that exists at USM has a long history, and the school has shown little willingness to confront and address it. Social media pages such as BlackAtUSM and MarginalizedAtUSM chronicle a number of recent issues that students of color, LGBTQ individuals, and other underrepresented groups at USM face on a daily basis.
In advocating for change at USM, the Robinsons were not only advocating for their children, they were advocating for all current and future USM students. But rather than engaging and looking for ways to make USM more tolerant, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming, USM retaliated. The Robinsons sought to raise awareness and effect positive change, but because of the school’s intransigence, they availed themselves of the only remedy left to them – litigation. It is our earnest hope that USM will finally listen.
We ask you to join us in calling on the USM Board of Trustees and the Head of School, Steve Hancock, to swiftly implement concrete plans to reverse USM’s culture of bias and insensitivity. For far too long, USM has failed to live up to its “Common Trust” principles and stated values. We see this as a pivotal moment in which USM has a unique opportunity to take ownership of its past failures so it can be a better educational institution – and so all USM students can thrive for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Lowell Gordon
USM Class of 1995
Ravae S.M. Sinclair, JD
USM Class of 1995
Allan McPhedran
Former USM Parent (2018-2021)
Cynthia McPhedran
Former USM Parent (2018-2021) and member of USM Parent Association Executive Board (2019-2021)
Saffron McPhedran
Former USM Student (2018-2021)
Sage McPhedran
Former USM Student (2018-2021)
Gladys Mitchell-Walthour
PhD Former USM Parent (2017, 1 semester)
Daphne Seaman Lerner
USM Class of 1988, USM Parent ('14, '16, '18, and '21), Alumni Board Member (2007-2017)
Stewart Lerner
Former USM Student (2006-2017) and Prefect-Elect for Class of 2018
Addie Lerner
USM Class of 2014, Prefect 2013-2014
JoAnne Pollard Williamson
USM Class of 1979, Parent of Alumnus, Former faculty (1990-2017)
Ronald Bennett Williamson
USM Class of 2011
Louise Lerner
Former USM Student (2006-2017)
Angie Yuan
Former USM Faculty (2017-2020)
Anonymous
Parent
Marissa skor
Alum
Sofia Lew
Student
Kelly Benable-Turner
Alum
Dr. Ansari
Allison Neitzel MD
Alum
Clifford Pitts III
Alum
Dr. Alexis E. Block
Alum
Kelly Buckley
Alum
Joshua Block Esq.
Alum
Cecelia Schnorr
Alum
Kevlyn Holmes
Alum
Caroline Reardon
Libby Ellsworth-Kasch
Alum
Tyler (Ninja) Blevins
Alum
Sam Florsheim
Alum
Paulita Pike Tennant
Carmiel Arbit
Alum
Hannah Hakami
Alum
Anfanioluwa Lawal
Alum
Ella Martin
Alum
Amardeep Khahra
Alum
Victoria Schmus
Alum
Mohsin Khan
Alum
Mira Giles-Pufahl
Alum
Natalie Lloyd
Anagha Bhushan
Alum
Brooke Hopkins
Alum
George Greenstreet
Alum
Lindsay Nelsen
Alison Kliegman
Alum
Sean Lew
Parent
Chandler Sullivan
Alum
Laura Hardwick
Alum
Elizabeth Bodalski
Alum
Audrey Treptow
Alum
Javier Mora
Kenechi Obiora
Alum
Kylee Summers
Sage Gundelly
Student
Carol Keating
Parent / Faculty
Sofia De Torre
Student
Joseph Georgeson
Faculty
Pauline Ngare
Parent of former student (2011-2019)
Shaun Sullivan-Schmitt
(parent of 2016 Alum)
Rory Tevlin
Alum
Pationce Bennett
(student 2003-2015)
Paul & Karylmary Lucey
Parent
Arthur Moore
Lesley Noer
Parent
Ali Robinson
Alum
Charlie Barnard
Student
June Stoddard
Class of 1974
Julia Radke
Alum
Mary Lucey
Student
Joel Wallskog
Parent
William Wilson
MiKayla Olson
Megan Wallskog
Parent
Ella Godfrey
Student
Diane Rush
Faculty
Ishan Sinha
Student
Jessica Key
Alum
Leah M. Rouse
Parent
Shaun Sullivan-Schmitt
Mum to 2016 Alumn
Matthew Gogan
Alum
Adam Cotton
Student
Margit Vaughn
Teresa Kulick
Alum
Sofie Brickman
Student
Jacob Bernstein
Alum
Grant Bay
Alum
Mary Broydrick
Alum
Maria Steinert
Alum
Holly Curcio
Jewell Walton
Teresa Handy
Quddus Miller
Alum
Michael Ali
Loredana Lungana
Parent
Chloe Steffes
Alum
Anne McKernan
Eric J. Belin, MD
Parent
Gabriela McCann
Heidi Pomeday
Jenny Ly
Anonymous
Morgan Klug
Hope Heavenrich
Alum
Macy O'Malley
Diane Schwarzhuber
Charlie Barnard
Student
Charles Montgomery Burns
Alum
Sam Bernstein
Alum
Audrianna B.
Neena Ellis
Russ Norment
Erica Lofton
Alum
Hannah Janicik
Vanessa Stofflet
Cameron Paxton
Parent
Claire Wernecke
Alum
Amanda Jungkuntz
USM Class of 1993
Katherine Langer Tesfaye
Alum
Serena Pollack
Alum
Karly Francis
Alum
Sarah Walz
Anonymous
Jonah Jensen
Angela Townsend
USM Class of 1987
Anonymous
Parent
Anonymous
Alum
Anon
Eden Erickson
Alum
Nathan Florsheim
Alum
William Ostermeyer
Alum
Meier Russell
Athena Borca
Alum
Ms. Brittany Ward, M.Ed.
Lori Linck
Stacey Jones
Matt
Student
Anonymous
Parent
Ibrahim Nawaz Kahn
Alum
Sheila G Evans
Zoe Wright
Alum
Anonymous
Supporter
Victoria Hagan
Annette Ferosie
(formerly Schwebel); former teacher and parent; 2007-2011
Shakari Lewis
Supporter
Jay Lerner
Parent
Laurel Cooke
Alum
Nayo McPherson
Mark Flaherty
Alum
Frances A Adams
Lily Wilson
Alum
Cole Wilson
Alum
Lexi Phillips
Alana Allen
Alum
Lola Mendeloff
Alum
Marshall Lerner
USM Class of 2016, Prefect (2016), Salutatorian
Sophie Kies
Alum
Jeanette and Paul Coleman
Jay Truel
Alum
Alexia Jaso
Alum
Rebecca Schwartz
Parent, Faculty
Nelson Kies
Alum
Namrata Ahuja
Parent
Halee Newby
Annie Stanford
Alum, Class of 2010
Michelle Reichhart
Michelle Ihlenfeld
Parent
Katie Mahoney
Alum
Anna Straszewski
Jam Mutschler
Alum
Ellie Balotovsky
Alum
Tyler Otha Smith
Alum
Nora Hagerman
Alum
Sarah LeFeber
Alum
Mike Glennen
Alum
Hadley Bay
(former parent of four) 2009-2012 and 2017-2020
Kelly (Jacobson) Tomlinson
Alum
Ian Parker
Student
Michael Mowles
Faculty
Arvind Goday
Alum
Susie Carter
Alum
Anna Schultz
Alum
Emily Cooley
Alum
Holly Golvach
Alum
Mac Schmidt
Alum
Anne Schumacher
Mimi Norman
Alum
Finn Mullen
Student
Nicholas Hu
Student
Juliet Souders (Miller)
Alum
Sasha Lew
Student
Cheyanne Vinson
Roshni Sharma
Student
Erica Coleman
Alum
Anna Rulnick
Alum
Brent Mackman
Alum
Gaby Musickant
Alum
Chayce Cornette
Madeline Daily McNichols
Alum
Nicholas Robert Mayerson
Alum
Jackie Jimenez
Student
Sara Yagobian Goldsen ‘95
Alum
Karen Schneiberg
(former parent/faculty)
Ali Sadeghi MD
Parent
Philippe Onetto
Alum
Rebecca Schwartz
Rory Tevlin
Alum
Kathryn Wurzer
Maria Steinert
Alum
Claire Sharpe
Alum
Zindzi Frederick
Student
Anonymous
Parent
Nathan Peterman
Alum
Anonymous
USM Class of 2018
Zoe Osk
Alum
Aaron Donald
Alum, Parent
Anonymous
Alum
Aaron Mitchell Finegold
Alum
Agnes Borden
Alum
Jacob Bakalinsky
Student
Floride Eaton
Parent
Quinn Kingwill
Alum
Turner (Tfue) Tenney
Parent
Yale Tishman
President of Alumni Board 2004-2010
Ishmael Beah
(USM Class of 1993)
Wyatt Cox
Student
Eden Hausmann
Student
Lisa Preston
Parent
Hannah Koniar
Alum
Jason Gordon, MBA
Alexandra Berryman
Nicole Nowinski
Mia Cudahy
Denzel Harris
Hannah Rogers
Alum
Joseph Michael Wells
Alum
Kavita Sharma
Parent
Libby Cox
Student
Eloise Hayden
Student
Rebecca Young
Anonymous
Emma Gurney
Alum
Antoinette Polsean
Matthew Peter Strack
Alum
Bryant Moreland
Alum
Anonymous
Student
Brandon Carter
Alum
Rebecca Young
(Former Parent)
Kevin Dowdell
Mary Perkins
Alum
Anonymous
Student
Russ McMinn
Alum
Anonymous
Carolyn Allen
Parent
Sandra Marks
Kellie Sadens
Kim Lunn
Farris L. Curry
Seema Arora
Alum
Ruby Kahn-Pettigrew
Clifton
John
John
Alum
Sandra Coulter
Shaun Bowen
Alum
Kimberly Andrade
Mike Kissane
Alum
Renee White
Kristy Hauschka
Will Koch
Alum
John Anthony Flores
Brenda Nowinski
Nadya Perez-Reyes
Alum
Desira Tennison
Parent
Leah Richardson
Alum
Annie
Parent
Eric Hayes
Alum
Gary Lawrence
USM 1986
Patsy Ingram
Mckenna Dahlquist
Mason Lamberton
Student
Anonymous
Parent
Steed Myles
Parent
Kate Duncan
USM Class of 1998
Kailan Brown
Alum
Stan Kepus
Alum
Anonymous
Parent
Emily
Supporter
Simon Affi
Alum
Major Gwendolyn Sheppard
USAFR, Retired
Nala Patel
Student
Kimberly R
Alum
Holly Janssen
Alum
Lex Rofeberg (Rofes)
USM Class of 2009
Klariza Salazar
Student
Hannah Zaydman
Alum
Marla Hiller
Alum
Sophia Lisette Banaszak
Alum
Claudia Emmert
Aunt of former USM students (2018-2021)
Sydney Fritz
Alum
Caroline Harkless
Alum
Seamus C Killian
Alum
Claire Reardon
Alum
Neomi Spellman
Student
Zachary Sardas-Trevorrow
Student
Erica
Student
Chloe Konnor
Alum
Jordan Rickun
Student
Eleanor Osberg
Alum
Brittany Schmus
Alum
Brook Uihlein
Alum
Jennifer Skor
Former USM parent 2017-2019 and co-Founder of Robotics team
Larry Skor
Former USM parent and Founder of USM First Robotics Team
Carrie LeFeber Schneider
Alum
Natalie Tennessen
Alum
Suzy Scotty
Annelise Gehl
Alum
Jacob Skor
Former USM Student (2017-2019)
Bryant Ellis
Faculty
Hira Malik
Alum
Erica Green
Student
Ben Marler
Student
Amelia Otjen
Student
Molly A. Rice
Alum
Madelyn Hernandez
Student
Heather Andolsen
Avana Kelly
Student
Ayesha Kazi
Alum
Melanie Jones
Alum
Tommaso Pantalei
Student
Noelle Filali
Alum
Paige Westmoreland
Stacey Cashman
Ryan Treptow
Alum
Asma Kazi
Student
Saif Kazi
Alum
Amy Bradley
Lea Wolf
Alum
Irene Gay
Alum
Adam Malik
Alum
Andrew Cotton
Alum
Brandon Singer
David Duke
Alum
Madeline Fricker
Anonymous
Alum (Class of 84)
Maia Thompson
Alum
Anonymous
Rahul A Desai, MD
Alum
Zaara M. Bonilla
Parent
Neema Desai, Esq
Parent
Brooke Kwasny
Alum
Claire Sharpe
Alum
Gretchen F. Miller
Former USM Parent and Faculty 2010-2019
Stephanie Ghoston
Alum
Jake Bernstein
Alum
Saanvi Sinha
Student
Makanjuola Joseph
(Prospective Parent)
Elizabeth Bodalski
Alum
Susan Skor
Iman L. KhanRondra
(perspective parent for upcoming year)
Adan Abu-Hakmeh
Alum
Lisa Preston
former USM parent 2017-2020
Rita Adams
Anonymous
Elli Sadeghi
Parent
Jack Ladd
Alum
Clayton Emmert
Dexter
Alum
Christine Manna
Parent
Divvy Zala
Alum
Rachel Machinton
(Escapee from class of 1995)
Christine Manna
parent of former student 2008-2019
Dan Smith
Parent
Margaret Allen Crocker
Alum
Krista Emmons
Margaret Menzies
Peter Laboy
Nicholas Diorio
Parent
Nancy Loftus Devine
Alum
Betsy Sara Ruppa
Alum
Emma Dickinson
Student
Michael Cisneros
Brittany
Jasmine Banks
Derek Raynor
Tisha Weddington
Anthony Walthour
Parent
David Axelrod
Alum
Jennifer Axelrod
Alum
Heidi Rashidi
Sheila Hughes
Brittney James
Ellen Wernecke
Alum '02
Heather Rothenberg
Saira Khanna
Alum
Bridget Madigan-Sharp LMSW
Alum
Adam Malkin
Alum
Erika Hurth
Alum
John Dzivak
Aracely De Loa
Alum
Caroline Black
Alum
Mia B Mullen
Alum
Sarah Lawton
Alum
Daniel Soto
Alum
Sam Wells
Alum
Anonymous Former Student
Ellie Sue Schafer
Natalie Gapinski
Student
Sascha Mentkowski
Alum
Margaret Bodalski
Alum
Doug Kane
Substitute teacher 2021-21
Roxanne Garcia
Lindsay (Hoelter) Tillman
Alum
Karen Lieberman
Former parent
Sam Peterson
Stephanie Shafiroff
Brenda Nowinski
J. Towns
Anonymous
Parent
Shirilyn Holt
Professor Donnetta Davis
Parent
Anne O'Connor
B. Wycough
Supporter
Sharath Raja
Parent
Sahitya Raja
Alum
Suhas Raja
Alum
Janel Hastings
Supporter
Sheila Scott
Supporter
Katherine Stuehrk
Former student, 1995-2007
Kevinee Gilmore
Maile Kalilikane
Supporter
Anonymous
Faculty
Anonymous
Supporter
Kathryn G. Davis
Alum