University officials have drafted a new policy on “civility, mutual respect and unacceptability of violence on campus” in this year’s student handbook following the work of a student task force convened to respond to last year’s incidences of racial and religious vandalism.
The students spent the summer working with administrators to find ways to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
“We’ve definitely done a lot of work,” said Mary Desler, associate vice president for Student Affairs. “But good came out of bad, and that’s often the case.”
In February six students found their doors vandalized at Ayers College of Commerce and Industry. The vandals had written “nigger,” “bitch,” “slut” and “I hate niggers” on the doors. Within the next two weeks, students found five swastikas in Bobb and McCulloch halls.
The vandalism peaked concern around campus and resulted in rallies and community forums with University President Henry Bienen. Administrators displayed “No Place for Hate” banners, and students signed petitions denouncing the act.
Still the vandalism continued.
The term “sand nigger” was scrawled on the dry-erase board of a Foster-Walker Complex dorm room late Winter Quarter. Then in May the word “black monkey” appeared on one door and another bore the word “nigger” with a drawing of a man with a rope around his neck.
The May incident prompted Associated Student Government senators to pass emergency legislation stating administrators had not done enough to curtail the vandalism. ASG also formed an 11-member task force to help officials draft policies.
“Our mission was to create more transparency between students and officials,” said Richard Goldberg, the task force’s co-chairman.
During the summer Goldberg met with Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis to discuss steps to further “prevent hate crimes and incidences of bias,” said Goldberg, a Medill senior.
The task force also researched how other schools reacted to similar acts of vandalism and worked with University Police.
Administrators used the task force’s work in drafting the new policy. Officials also distributed a brochure clarifying university policies on hate crimes and incidences of bias to freshmen at this year’s president’s convocation.
The brochure describes the difference between hate crimes and bias incidences, and explains that students who commit either acts could be subjects to disciplinary and legal action. Desler also said an interactive “No Place for Hate” Web site is in the works.
UP has restructured the way it treats racial vandalism, said Chief Bruce Lewis. The Anti-Defamation League trained several officers this summer, and vandalism reports now are considered a “high priority.” Now as soon as an incident is reported, a supervisor and police officer will go immediately to the scene. Within a week of the incident, the police chief will meet with the students affected by the crime.
UP has not arrested anyone in connection with the incidents. Lewis said they still are working diligently on the case.
Jonathon Milam, a McCormick sophomore, found the drawing of the hanged man last year. He said he does not think NU ever will find the person who drew the picture, but he still appreciates NU’s efforts to prevent another incident.
“If this had to happen to me to effect change,” Milam said, “then it was a pretty good thing.”
