Swastikas on campus cause controversy

A swastika and a big X carved into a wall and ceiling left students at the Multicultural Center in shock Wednesday, Nov. 21.

The carving was found in a room in Atwood Memorial Center.

Three days later, another swastika was found on the seventh floor men's bathroom in W.W. Holes Hall.

"We, the students of color, decided to take the matter seriously and had already reported the incident to the Public Safety and the school administration," said cultural diversity chair Pascal Lawrence.

Some students felt enough was not being done to address the issue on campus.

Student Amer Lam, 22, said she felt the administration failed to address the issue as serious after an e-mail went out from the school president which she said lacked some decisiveness on the issue.

Lawrence organized a forum to discuss the issue, how to best come to a resolution and what actions to take.

Those who attended the forum included SCSU Vice President Wanda Overland, American Indian Center Director Jim Knutson-Kolodzne and Atwood Interim Director Ed Bouffard.

The concerns raised by the students were racism and the abuse that has been going on in and around campus.

Luanda Majoa, freshman student from Southern Africa, said, "I was told there was no racism in the U.S., but now I have second thoughts about what I was told."

The display of the graffiti had a psychological effect on some of the students.

Lawrence, who is also a student, spoke of different groups being targeted and he said "the abuse is not only happening at the cultural center but other groups of people are being targeted and the

students should talk about it also. "

Amer Lam a former chair of cultural diversity, said, "The first e-mail sent did address the issue and the President of the University was the only one concerned about the incident, she also said most of the School Administration members did not seem to care and wanted the issue to just blow away".

The Head of Atwood Center Ed Bouffard asked what the student would have wanted done for their security at the center and Amir Lam replied "we can't force people to do their job, and we look up to the President of the school to do the right think".

Vice President of the school Wanda overland told the students present that, "we take the issue seriously and we are trying to identify individual responsible and also put camera at the center to protect the place from further treat and abuse".

The students present were not impressed with the way the school Public Safety acted and did not so in a professional manner.

The incident was reported to Public safety and a report was taken but was not followed up.

The students felt let down and felt the public safety chooses what to report and issue safety alert only if it's regarding the white majority students.

Students then decided to walk to the Public Safety office to inquire why this was the case.

They met with head of Public Safety after a while sitting outside in the lobby. They forwarded their grievances and the case to the head of public safety and requested the issue be dealt with seriously.

Ciro Mugo a Manager of Atwood Center said, "I feel like my life was in danger, and by do you know what the swastika means and what it has done historically".

Miles Heckendorn who heads the department of public safety said, "we are working on trying to solve the problem with the University Board and I have a meeting with them today about the issue, I will also take the matter seriously and issue a safety alert to the whole campus through e-mail".

After giving their testimonies the student decided to walk to the president of the campus office to further explains why it was very important for their safety to be take seriously.