2008 Woodie Awards
Swastikas on campus cause controversy
Abubakar Kullatein
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
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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 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".