Indiana’s Depauw University has suffered six racist events over the last few days, and as a result students protesters have sprung into action.
The small, private liberal arts college dealt with racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled in restrooms, a rock formation which spelled the “n-word,” and “a student engaging in offensive behavior.”
Though university officials and law enforcement are investigating, student activists began demonstrations — most notably interrupting “The Office” star Jenna Fischer’s address. According to The Depauw, shouts of “I am not safe. We are not safe” rang out at a whistled command, and signs featured statements such as “Where’s the black in black and gold?” and “I should not fear for my life while striving for my education.”
A banner with the phrase “We are not safe #DePauwKKK” was opened up as well.
Yesterday, President Mark McCoy sent an email informing the campus that the former Sigma Alpha Epsilon house would become a designated (safe) space for the Association of African American Students.
Student activists “marched into” a press conference at noon on Wednesday to demand campus officials meet, well, their demands, the first of which is a house for black students by next semester. The Indianapolis Star reports the AAAS asked school administrators not to share the correspondence between administrators and the group.
In regards to this incident, McCoy stated during the press conference, “It’s going to take some time…we need more evidence.”
Some students skipped class on Tuesday to protest. Students who attended class said some faculty and staff did not know of the events that took place at the Jenna Fischer Ubben Lecture, or details of the biased incidents reported in the last week. McCoy responded that last night an email was sent to all faculty and staff briefing them on the events.
Students held various signs at the press conference which included messages such as, “DePauw protects racists” and “Your silence gives consent.”
After 25 minutes the press conference ended and students activists followed McCoy, Hill, and Owen out of the Watson Forum. As students walked down Locust Street, other bystanders joined the March. Students marched all the way up to the Finance and Administration Building where they held up their fists in silence and said, “We will be back at 5:00 p.m.”
The demonstration planned for 5 p.m. has since been canceled because McCoy left campus.
When asked for comment, student activists refused to comment except by stating, “We are not safe.”
Surveillance footage is being reviewed, although there are no cameras in the restrooms nor in the park where the rocks were discovered.
President McCoy said officials are not assuming the culprit is a Depauw student.
MORE: Girl who claimed man threatened to cut off her hijab lied
MORE: ‘Non-white’ HS student admits to racist graffiti
IMAGE: Blue Sky Image/Shutterstock
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