In June, the renewed surge in activism surrounding George Floyd’s death led many students to once again call for accountability from the Washington University administration. Chancellor Martin’s statements didn’t follow far behind, and in them, he promised to work towards a concrete plan to address systemic racism within the Wash. U. community as well as the larger St. Louis area.

Last week, one of the fruitions of that promise came to light: a committee formed to “examine public safety and policing on the Danforth Campus and in nearby neighborhoods.”

In the release, the University claims to have “begun a process” to rethink safety and systemic racism on campus—language that makes the commission seem like a novel step forward. But in reality, the proposed committee is the latest in a parade of committees created by the administration to address various symptoms of the systemic racism present in and around the Wash. U. community. In 2018, the University City Council created a task force to “address the city’s relationship with Washington University.” In 2015, another commission—this one to create a plan for increased diversity on campus.

Each of these commissions was born out of student uproar—but what happens when the ruckus dies down?

Martin’s initial promises in his letter to students in June were delivered under the gaze of a frustrated, riled-up student body. But the follow-up—this commission, among the first concrete actions to emerge from that letter—arrived rather quietly in the Source, despite (supposedly) being the fulfillment of those same initial promises.

This is one of the hardest parts of activism. We become active in response to blatant injustice—but those emotions don’t last forever, and once they peter out, we are confronted with a mountain of work and a long road ahead. When dealing with issues that are deep-rooted and systemic, this is especially true. Even under the best of intentions, casual activism has a tendency to trim the branches off the tree rather than really get at pulling up the roots.

The cycle of fervor and apathy that casual activists experience is the same cycle that allows Wash. U. to generate committees without concrete action.

It’s important to continue to follow up on the demands made to the University. It’s important to care about what has been done and how it has been done. This committee, for example, is currently comprised of members who are expressly affiliated with Wash. U., despite vowing to reexamine Wash. U.’s policing practices outside of the Wash. U. community. This may seem like a small detail, but it cannot be overlooked. In a discussion about the interactions between WUPD and St. Louis, input from members of the neighborhood surrounding Wash.U. is fundamental.

Activism isn’t always protests and dramatic, visible change. When it comes to addressing the effects of systemic racism, the details matter. It’s up to us, the students, to be watching when the university attempts to deliver on its promises.

This is not to say that it will be easy. It’s not only apathy that leads to a lull in activism—sometimes it’s hard to know what to do to help. But when we don’t know what we can and should do, we should turn to those who know more than us, and support the activists and organizers who can direct us toward tangible action. Listen when they call out to the student body, and respond.

Ideally, we could leave this kind of change in the hands of the University. But if we can’t follow up on our demands, can we be surprised when they don’t follow through on their promises? Hold the University accountable. Keep an eye on which promises they keep. This is your chance to create real change; this is your chance to pull up the tree by the root.