Oberlin College-

Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov said he will not respond to demands made by black students.

(Tony Dejak, Associated Press )

Marvin Krislov

OBERLIN, Ohio - Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov said he will not respond to 14 pages of demands submitted by black students.

Krislov posted a statement Wednesday about the petition, which was submitted last month before students went on winter break.

The detailed petition includes general goals of increasing the number of black students, faculty and administrators and more controversial proposals including creating "exclusive Black safe spaces," curriculum changes, firing of specific employees, and renaming academic buildings.

The petition says "Failure to meet them [demands] will result in a full and forceful response from the community you fail to support."

See the demands below or click here if on a mobile device.

Krislov's response, on the college's website, said the petition was "written against a backdrop of events at colleges and universities across the country, including Oberlin, that prompted passionate discussions and demonstrations related to structural and systemic racism in American higher education."

He wrote that he hears the "frustration and the desire for change at Oberlin contained in the document which echoes national themes and concerns about racism and justice." He added that Oberlin must take more steps to address racial problems on campus.

"However, some of the solutions it proposes are deeply troubling," he wrote of the petition. "I will not respond directly to any document that explicitly rejects the notion of collaborative engagement. Many of its demands contravene principles of shared governance. And it contains personal attacks on a number of faculty and staff members who are dedicated and valued members of this community."

Most students are off campus participating in the college's month-long winter term program.

The private liberal arts college is nationally known for its diversity and support of competing ideas. It became the first predominantly white collegiate institution to admit black male students in 1835 and two years later it opened its doors to all women.

The college made national headlines in December after students staged a protest over meals served in dining halls, seeking authentic, culturally diverse meals and better quality food.

Officials pledged to work with students during spring semester.

The college's alumni association emailed details about the petition and Krislov's response, which prompted several alumni to post responses to the president's statement.

Many cited the college's history of encouraging discourse, protests and change.

"I welcome legitimate discourse and the openness of Oberlin's administration and faculty to continue its mission of fairness in all respects to all races, religions and genders," wrote Thomas Shepard. "I also must applaud the patience of Dr. Krislov and others who are doing their utmost to separate legitimate demands from juvenile outbursts."