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Discrimination and harassment reported on MSU campus over weekend, president says

September 4, 2024
<p>Wonders Hall photographed on June 26, 2019. </p>

Wonders Hall photographed on June 26, 2019.

Instances of discrimination and harassment were reported on campus this past weekend, according to a statement MSU president Kevin Guskiewicz sent to the MSU community Wednesday morning.  

He said, "the strong bonds that bind us were tested this past weekend by instances of antisemitism, anti-Black racism and homophobia through hateful expression and actions in two of our residence halls and nearby grounds." 

The incidents were reported to the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety and Office for Civil Rights and are being investigated, Guskiewicz said in the statement. He added that those found responsible will be held accountable and disciplined. 

The statement also reiterated the university’s anti-discrimination process and message on civil discourse, among other resources.

The details regarding the incidents end there. University spokesperson Mark Bullion said that to protect the privacy of the individuals involved, MSU will not be commenting beyond the information shared by the president. 

Angel Noaks, internal president of the Black Students’ Alliance, wants to know more.

"We’re curious as to what these hateful expressions and actions are," Noaks said. "Where did they take place? We are aware that it happened in two dorm halls, but which ones? We believe that it is important to put a description to these crimes and let the community know exactly what is going on, as it pertains to discriminatory instances."

Noaks said although she appreciates that the president's statement condemns discrimination and harassment, she believes further details should be shared with the MSU community as soon as they make it to the president’s desk. 

Though MSU is not releasing further details, the university's Clery Crime and Fire Log provides some insight into the reported incidents. The log lists a hate crime that occurred at Wonders Hall on Sept. 2 at 3:15 a.m. That is the only hate crime reported in the clery log last weekend. 

Noaks' initial reaction to the news was disappointment, she said.

"It seems like these instances of racism, antisemitism and homophobia are common occurrences," Noaks said. 

She said she wants to know how the university plans to hold those individuals accountable.

BSA plans to release a statement acknowledging what occurred on campus and how to move forward, she said. Additionally, the BSA has a meeting with Guskiewicz scheduled in the near future to discuss this incident and other instances of anti-Black racism on campus. 

While Noaks said she believes the intention behind this statement is positive, she said she thinks it's too early to say if MSU administration will be taking these incidents seriously in the future.

"We do want to give the new president the benefit of the doubt, but we are still hesitant in pouring our full support into administration," Noaks said.

Matthew Zivian, executive intern for the MSU Hillel which oversees the Jewish Student Union, said he was just glad to see a statement.

"I think that action by itself alone, without getting into content, is a very positive step," Zivian said. "It shows an active transparency from the university to its student body."

He said the statement shows that when these incidents are reported, they are taken seriously and "not just getting lost in some system."

Zivian said MSU Hillel and JSU take these incidents very seriously.

"We take this incident the same way we take any antisemitic incident: that’s (by) trying to reach out and give support to all Jewish students," he said. "Unfortunately, it is alive and well at MSU. So the Hillel and JSU is here to support any Jewish student who needs to go through the steps of reporting an incident, working through that process, and being there for emotional support."

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Zivian hopes that continual education can be the solution to these incidents.

"The hate is happening from students to students, so hopefully we can continue to educate students to eliminate any hate we see on campus," Zivian said.

Noaks asks the university for change and proper consequences for those responsible.

"People do the trainings, people read these statements, but what else is being done aside from that?" Noaks said. "There needs to be some sort of genuine repercussion that these students are facing, and one that will heavily impact them instead of just a slap on the wrist."

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