May 11, 2012:  Racial Incident at Cornell University

Cornell University has placed the Sigma Pi fraternity on interim suspension pending an investigation of a racial incident. According to police, people on the roof of the fraternity house threw bottles and other objects and taunted a group of Black students who were walking by the house with racial insults. A fraternity spokesperson said that it had identified one perpetrator and that the person was not a member of the fraternity. One of the Black students told police that it was difficult to determine how many people were involved but she added that other people on the roof appeared to be encouraging the behavior and did nothing to stop it.

Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, issued a statement which read:

“There is no place for this kind of behavior at Cornell University; we celebrate our diversity and expect all our members to respect one another. My colleagues and I regret that this happened at all, and call on every Cornellian to support each other and most especially the members of our community most affected by this incident. Once we have completed a review of the incident, including who was involved, appropriate action will be taken and we will notify the community when that happens.”

Apr 20, 2012:  Nooses Found on the Campus of the University of West Florida

Two nooses were found on the campus of the University of West Florida in Pensacola. One was found last Saturday and a second noose was found on Monday.

Judith Bense, president of the university, issued a statement which read, in part, “This speech is repugnant to university ideals. The university strives to create and maintain a community that is free of harassment, intimidation and/or humiliation for all students, faculty and staff. This matter is very serious. I hope you will all join me in open, honest dialogue and mutual respect for our fellow students and colleagues.” 

 Apr 13, 2012:  University of California San Diego Agrees to Take Steps to Prevent Racial Harassment

The United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education have announced that they have resolved an investigation of racial harassment directed against African Americans on the campus of the University of California at San Diego.

Complaints alleged multiple incidents of racial harassment on campus including public displays of nooses and a hood from a Ku Klux Klan uniform.

The university voluntarily agreed to take steps to prevent future acts of racial harassment, to eliminate any hostile racial environments on campus, and to respond appropriately when incidents of harassment occur in the future. The university agreed to maintain an Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination and to provide mandatory training for staff and students on the university’s anti-discrimination policies and procedures.

“Students have a right to seek and obtain an education without facing racial harassment,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. “UCSD, like all colleges and universities, has an obligation to make clear that racial discrimination and harassment on campus will not be tolerated, and this agreement is a significant step in the right direction.”

Mar 29, 2012:  Editorial Cartoon Creates an Uproar at the University of Texas

An uproar occurred on the campus of the University of Texas when the student newspaper the Daily Texan published a cartoon this past Tuesday relating to the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida. The cartoon shows a woman on a chair that is labeled, “The Media.” She is reading a book to a child with the title, Treyvon Martin and the Case of Yellow Journalism. The woman is quoted as reading, “And then, the big bad white man killed the handsome, sweet, innocent, colored boy.”

Mar 26, 2012:  Racial Incident Reported at the University of Wisconsin

Two Black women students at the University of Wisconsin reported that they were subjected to racial slurs as they walked past a fraternity house near campus. The women were taunted by men who were partying on the porch of the fraternity house. A glass bottle was thrown at the women but no one was hurt.

The university placed the chapter of Delta Upsilon fraternity on emergency suspension until an investigation of the incident is completed. The fraternity recently had been on “alcohol probation” after an incident of underage drinking last fall.

Mar 12, 2012:  “White Pride” Messages Found on Towson University Campus

This past weekend members of the Youth for Western Civilization were alleged to have written messages in chalk at several places on the campus of Towson University in Maryland. The messages read, “White Pride.”

A forum was held on campus to discuss the incidents. Here is a video news report on the forum.

Feb 24, 2012:  Racial Incident at Purdue University

A photo of the late Cornell Bell hangs in the lobby of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. Bell was a professor who led Purdue’s Business Opportunity Program for more than 37 years. He retired in 2006 and died in 2009.

Last week, a visiting alumnus discovered that a large “X” was found written in marker over Bell’s photograph and a racial slur was written above his name.

France A. Córdova, president of Purdue University, issued a statement that read, “We deplore the act of racial vandalism that occurred recently in our Krannert Building. It is offensive, shocking and wholly out of character with our values and goals of inclusion and mutual respect. This incident cannot and will not define us as people or as an institution.”

Feb 03, 2012:  Series of Hate Crimes Strikes the Campus of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Three hate crimes have been reported on the campus of the University of Wisconsin Parkside in Kenosah over the past several days.

On Wednesday, a noose made of rubber bands hanging in a common area of a dormitory was found by a Black woman student. After the woman reported the incident to university authorities, the next day she received a racially charged note that was left near the door of her dormitory room, accompanied by a second noose.

Later that night, fliers were found at the residence hall. The fliers contained threatening messages directed at particular Black students, racial slurs, and warnings that the Black students would be killed.

The university police department called in seven sheriff’s department detectives to aid them in the investigation.

“At the University of Wisconsin-Parkside we’re proud of the diverse living and learning environment the campus offers our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve,” said Chancellor Deborah Ford. “The type of behavior displayed by a very small number of people is not tolerated and will not be tolerated here.”

Update: The fliers threatening Black students were later found to be a hoax. A student admitted that she created the fliers because she was displeased about the university’s response to the initial incidents.

Jan 18, 2012:  The University of Cincinnati Mounts an Online Program to Combat Racial and Sexual Harassment

The University of Cincinnati is requiring all faculty and staff to complete an online training program on racial and sexual harassment. Students are also being asked to participate in the training program. There are four tracks for different campus constituencies: faculty, staff, students, and supervisors.

George Wharton, director of the equal opportunity office at the University of Cincinnati, says that the program “is formatted to encourage awareness and prevention of harassment and discrimination. The program outlines current law on harassment and includes examples to illustrate words and behaviors that might reasonably be regarded as discriminatory.”

At the conclusion of the online training session, the viewer will be given a 15 question test to certify that they have mastered the course material. If they fail the test, they can retake the program again until they pass.

Dec 19, 2011:  University Band Played “Dixie” at Lynching Site

Last month the Missouri State University Pride Band was asked to perform at the dedication of a public park in downtown Springfield. During its performance the band played the song “Dixie.” In 1906, three African American men were lynched in the same location.

The president of the local chapter of the NAACP lodged a protest with the university’s interim president, Clif Smart. President Smart issued a quick apology and stated that the song will not be played by the band in any public venue in the future.

Wes Pratt, an equal opportunity official at Missouri State told the Springfield News-Leader, the song “was not appropriate, certainly not on the public square with the history. It’s an indication of lack of cultural competence, which we must continue to work on to improve at Missouri State and in the community.”

Dec 04, 2011:  Historically Black University Settles Race Discrimination Lawsuit With White Football Coach

Robby Wells, former head football coach at Savannah State University, agreed to a $240,000 settlement of a race discrimination lawsuit. Wells, who is White, claimed that the historically Black university had fired him because of his race.

Wells claimed in the lawsuit that he was told by university officials that alumni would not support him because of his race and that citizens of Savannah would not support him because of his plans to marry an African American woman.

In agreeing to the settlement, the university denied any wrongdoing in the case.

Dec 02, 2011:  Confederate Flag Controversy at the Beaufort Campus of the University of South Carolina

Byron Thomas is a 19-year-old student at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. He had a Confederate battle flag hanging in the window of his dormitory room on campus where it could be seen by people walking through campus. Just before Thanksgiving, university officials told him to remove the flag. After he posted a video online at CNN explaining his views, officials relented and told him he could display the flag.

In an email to the campus community, a university spokesperson stated that officials had asked Thomas to remove the flag “out of respect for his fellow students’ concerns.” But the email went on to state that the university had a firm regard for the First Amendment right of free speech and that “the university cannot and will not prohibit these flags or other symbols that our students choose to display.”

By the way, Thomas is an African American.

Here is the video of Thomas explaining his views.

Nov 23, 2011:  Civil Rights Suit Filed Against the University of New Mexico

A group of African American religious leaders and the Albuquerque chapter of the NAACP have filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education against the University of New Mexico. The suit charges that the university has created a racially hostile environment for students, faculty, and staff. The complaint singles out the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.

Among the charges in the complaint are:

• No African Americans have ever held leadership posts in the administration or faculty outside of Black studies.

• Black faculty and staff are paid less than Whites in similar posts.

• Black faculty and staff receive harsher discipline for rules infractions than White faculty and staff.

• Black doctors and nurses at the Health Sciences Center are subjected to a racially hostile work environment.

• Black patients do not get the same level of care at the hospital’s emergency room as other patients.

In a statement responding to the allegations, the university administration said, ““We do not discriminate against African-Americans. The university has very clear policies in place which prohibit discrimination and we train our employees to comply with the law and our policies.”

Nov 20, 2011:  Sorority at the University of Southern Mississippi Disciplines Six Students for Blackface Incident

Six students at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg were placed on probation by their sorority for dressing in blackface to attend an off-campus party. The students went in costume depicting themselves as members of the Huxtable family from the 1980s television sitcom, The Cosby Show.

The students, all members of the Phi Mu sorority, will not be disciplined by the university. Dean of Students Eddie Holloway, stated, “Though it is clear that these women had no ill intent, it was also clear that they had little cultural awareness or competency, and did not understand the historical implication of costuming in blackface.” 

Nov 16, 2011:  Williams College Cancels a Day of Classes After Racial Incident on Campus

This past Saturday, the phrase “All Niggers Must Die” was found written on a hallway wall on the fourth floor of Prospect Hall at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The administration acted quickly by notifying local police and holding discussions with students and faculty. Classes and athletic practices were cancelled on Monday. More than a thousand students, faculty, and staff members came together on Chapin Lawn after a student-led march to hear from President Adam Falk and other administrators, as well as students. A slide show of photos from the day of reflection at Williams can be viewed here.

A committee was formed to develop a protocol on how to handle any future incidents of this nature.

Sep 09, 2011:  New York University Settles Harassment Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of an African-Born Former Employee

New York University has agreed to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The suit was filed on behalf of an African-born former employee who used to work in the university’s library mailroom. The employee alleged that his supervisor frequently referred to him as a “monkey” and told him to “go back to his cage.” The suit alleged that the university was slow to respond to the employees allegations of being subjected to a racially hostile workplace.

The university agreed to pay the former employee $210,000 and pledged to improve its complaint procedures.