Addressing The Racist Incident on Campus
On Sunday, October 6, 2019, a University of Colorado Boulder student studying in the Engineering Center was verbally attacked with racial slurs. The attacker is a white woman who has since been arrested by CUPD on a misdemeanor harassment charge — she is not affiliated with the campus (police had run into her previously for illegally camping on campus). In a video posted to social media, she accused the African American male student of stalking her and used racist language.
CU Boulder students have spoken out against the incident, condemning all forms of racism and oppression on campus. On the morning of October 9, many students dressed in all black clothing to protest the racist incident outside the University Memorial Center.
On October 11, someone wrote a racial slur in snow on a vehicle parked on University Hill.
Chancellor Philip DiStefano released a statement saying “Our goal is to ensure that every person at CU Boulder has a safe, welcoming and supportive learning environment — and that racism and harassment have no place to hide.”
The Black Student Alliance released a “5-point plan” addressing the situation with demands, and the administration replied with ways to restructure campus policies that impact communities of protected classes.
An article in the Denver Post commented on how students and faculty are underprepared on how to handle racist acts taking place on their campus, calling on the university to extend their training beyond the current mandatory discrimination and harassment lessons.
Both students and administration agree there is more work to be done, but this commitment to address the demands is a promising start.
In a recent announcement, Chancellor Philip DiStefano encouraged students to attend the annual Diversity and Inclusion Summit on November 12 and 13 in the University Memorial Center. More information can be found by clicking the link.
Photo by Cliff Grassmick, Daily Camera.
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