You might have read or heard in the last week about several incidents that have taken place on our campus.
There have been five incidents reported of individuals driving by black students and yelling racial comments at them. In one instance, an individual was sprayed with water.
As the dean of the division of student affairs and the director of the Multicultural Center, we want the community to understand the university deplores this type of behavior and will not tolerate it. We believe these incidents are indicative of a larger societal problem.
It is our hope that these unfortunate occurrences will raise awareness about racism and serve as a catalyst for all of us to combat this issue.
We also want you to be aware of several steps we are taking in response to the reported incidents.
Our Department of Public Safety is increasing its police presence on campus in an effort to catch those who have committed these acts and to prevent a recurrence of these incidents.
We need everyone in our community to assist in our efforts by immediately providing any information or knowledge you might have of these incidents to the University Police Department at 285-1111.
We are also reminding concerned students of information we share with all members of our community regarding personal safety: Walk with at least one other person at night, stay in well-lighted areas, be alert to your surroundings and know where the emergency call boxes are on campus so you can contact police quickly.
The university also has a free escort service available - Charlie's Charter - to provide rides between campus locations. To request a ride, call 760-RIDE or 285-5005.
The rights and privileges of everyone associated with this university must be protected. Any form of harassment or discrimination against any individual violates the values and ideals of Ball State University, so Ball State will take appropriate action against the individuals involved in these incidents.
As we move forward, we encourage all members of our academic community to accept the responsibility of creating a welcoming and safe environment for all who work and study here.
Write to Kay at kbales@bsu.edu
Write to Derick at dvirgil@bsu.edu
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