Despite university efforts to promote multiculturalism on campus, an incident last week displayed intolerance for minorities in residence halls.
Social relations sophomore Kalaethia Hawkins is a member of Case Hall Black Caucus. She and other caucus members began displaying signs on their doors promoting education and awareness for the group at the beginning of the semester.
But last Tuesday, Hawkins found a message scrawled across her poster containing a racial slur. The incident occurred sometime between last Monday night and last Tuesday morning.
“When I first saw it, I was really angry,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if it was a joke. But after a while, I felt really threatened by it. I felt bad that someone wanted me to die because I was an African American student.”
Hawkins immediately went to her mentor, and the two contacted Case Hall’s graduate adviser. A floor meeting was held to discuss the incident and decide how to take further action. Hawkins also filed a police report.
But Hawkins said the person responsible for writing the statement remains unknown.
“There isn’t much they can do,” she said. “But if they put it out there and let the person know it happened and we aren’t happy about it, it will prevent them from doing this to someone else.”
Still, Hawkins said she would tell the person how she felt if she could.
“I would just let them know that it really hurt me, and I am sure it’s someone who doesn’t know me,” she said. “I would let them know I earned my way in here like everybody else. I don’t think I should be hated because I am a black person.”
Paul Rinella, complex director for Case Hall, said he was shocked and disgusted when he learned about the incident.
“I think we have an accepting, open and diverse population,” he said. “Just living in the residence halls, we try to convey an acceptance of other lifestyles and beliefs.”
Michael Wilder, president of Case Hall Black Caucus and creator of the posters, said he has sensed racial tension since an incident at Auburn University on Oct. 25, in which a white fraternity painted their faces black for a Halloween party.
“We were all disturbed by the incident,” the pre-law junior said. “We let everyone know it was going on, and let them know it wasn’t isolated - it happens on our campus as well.”
Wilder said the posters were designed to promote the caucus’ importance and inform the public about unity on campus.
“Our main purpose of being here is to educate people,” he said. “We will let the authorities handle it the way they should.”
MSU police Sgt. Jennifer Brown said the incident is an uncommon occurrence on campus.
“There are no suspects at this time,” she said. “The community police officer is aware of it and they do extra walk-throughs and let staff know when there is a problem of that nature.”
Mary Phillips, president of Black Student Alliance, said the incident doesn’t surprise her.
“It seems like this has been happening on campus for years,” the health studies senior said. “It’s not as overt as it used to be, but racism is definitely still here and we have to let people know we aren’t going to take this on campus.”
Phillips said measures such as floor meetings or diversity workshops need to be initiated to prevent such incidents.
“Also, this needs university-wide attention,” she said. “This is supposed to be an institution that accepts everyone.”
