In response to racist and threatening graffiti in a University of Wisconsin-River Falls bathroom, university community members banded together through rallies, discussions and demonstrations Monday to show their support for diversity.
The graffiti, which singles out two ethnic groups, was found in the Chalmer Davee Library on the UW-River Falls campus Oct. 25.
Craig Morris, chief diversity officer at UW-River Falls, said while there have been other incidents of hate expression aimed at various communities on campus, none have been as specific or deliberate as this graffiti.
According to UW-River Falls spokesperson Kevin Harter, the perpetrator of the graffiti has not been identified.
“It’s an open investigation between the city of River Falls Police Department and by the campus police department,” Harter said. “If it was determined that a student was responsible for it, they would be prosecuted for a hate crime and face consequences up to expulsion.”
The graffiti, which read: “The time of destruction is near. Blacks + Asians 11-02-09,” brought the UW-River Falls together as a community, Harter said.
“Many students wore red for unity and the solidarity march [Monday]. Facebook groups and boards in the student union took student concerns and comments about the graffiti,” Harter said. “It’s been positive for the campus to galvanize and come together like this.”
To support the solidarity march, the UW-River Falls bookstore offered a 20 percent in-store discount on red shirts Friday through Monday, according to the UW-River Falls website.
Harter noted the UW-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen met with the Black Student Union and the Asian Student Union last week, and e-mails and newsletters were also sent out to campus staff.
The chancellor addressed nearly 300 students along with faculty and staff Monday, and referred to the racist graffiti as a cowardly act, Harter noted.
Harter said extra security precautions and surveillance were also taken.
Student groups also coordinated a rally with student speakers and a unity march of solidarity at noon Monday, Harter said.
“Most students and faculty send a strong, clear message that this campus does not tolerate a negative, racist act. There’s a clear sign that students are coming together — not just colored students but all students,” Harter said. “We feel that Sunday in the campus bathroom may have reflected the attitude of that one person but no one else on campus.”
Morris encouraged any student with negative, racial sentiments to seek help.
“If a student is expressing these sentiments, it is a strong indication they will continue it,” Morris said. “If they come to terms with the behavior, counseling will certainly help.”
In preventing future bias incidents, Morris said the first step is to raise awareness and exposure to the situation.
Another way of examining the racial climate at UW-River Falls is the Campus Climate Assessment.
“[The Assessment is] for students to confidentially express their sentiments on four UW campuses this year that the [UW System] Board of Regents is sanctioning,” Morris said.
