Over the last several days, a number of racist incidents on the Syracuse University campus have enraged community members, prompting many to hit the streets.
Last week, students organized a sit-in protest at the Barnes Center calling for the expulsion of students involved in the incidents, revision of the school’s current anti-harassment policy, mandatory diversity training for new staff and faculty, NBC News reported.
The first incident of racism was reported on November 7 at the Day Hall, a student dormitory, where inappropriate graffiti targeting African-American and Asian communities were found.
On Wednesday, a bathroom in the physics building featured graffiti derogatory toward the Asian community followed by a similar graffiti of a swastika found at Haven Hall and a student yelling “a racial epithet that is derogatory to African Americans,” according to a CNN report.
“I am deeply angered by these events, including this latest incident,” Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a statement.
“The individuals involved have been identified and will be held appropriately accountable to the Code of Student Conduct and to the full extent of the law. We are working with the Syracuse Police Department, and we intend to bring this investigation to a swift and successful conclusion,” he added.
Syracuse University has recently had an increase in racist activity on campus and the students of color are coming together to protest the administration’s lack of action. It would be incredibly beneficial if you all could share this info and sign the petition below 🖤🖤 pic.twitter.com/86e9UkYcLO
— Sha 🦋 (@1ts_sha) November 13, 2019
Following the first incident, even Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force and State Division of Human Rights to assist local authorities in the investigation of the incidents.
“I’m disgusted by the recent rash of hateful language found scrawled on the walls at Syracuse University, where students from around the world are drawn each year in the pursuit of higher learning,” Cuomo said in a statement.
“These types of hateful and bigoted actions seek to splinter and segregate our communities, and they have no place in New York – period.”
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) Chief Bobby Maldonado and his team are currently investigating the incidents. A University donor has even offered a reward for evidence that leads to the apprehension of the individuals involved in incidents.
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