Task force looking at threats

N.C. State University has created a task force on campus hate crimes in its most recent step to address racial threats scrawled on the walls of the school’s Free Expression Tunnel.

Chancellor James Oblinger created the campus culture task force committee to review the campus cultural climate, the Student Code of Conduct and the Free Expression Tunnel and Brickyard practices.

Punishment for the students responsible for the threats against President-elect Barack Obama and opinions on what steps should be taken to deter future incidents have divided the student body.

Student Senate President and task force member Greg Doucette said the student body requested the creation of the task force.

“I am glad that students have taken a stern but also cautious approach to this,” he said. “This is a very serious issue.”

However, some students doubt that the task force can prompt real change, said Student Senator Kenneth Webb. They question whether this task force will be any different from past committees that dissolved before taking action.

“I believe that if the committee does not come to a consensus then students will be frustrated since none of the committees will have properly addressed the problems,” he said.

While there have been past discussions about campus hate crime, administrators have yet to institute official hate crime policy.

“I would really like to see more involvement from the administration on this issue,” Webb said.

The task force will specifically address the Student Code of Conduct’s stance on punishment for hate speech or hate crimes, even in the Free Expression Tunnel, which is meant to be unregulated.

As it stands, Oblinger has mandated education, not legal action such as expulsion, for the students responsible for the graffiti.

The Student Senate passed a resolution Wednesday night that calls for community service, diversity education and counseling for the students involved.

Adrianna Harrell, a task force member, said she hopes their work will unite the student body.

“I want the task force to find a middle ground between what free expression really is and what is appropriate without stepping on anyone’s toes or limiting what people can say,” she said.

Student Senator Maritza Adonis said she thinks students will appreciate the task force once new policies are adopted and there is proof that the administration is taking action.

“Right now, a lot of people think that it is just making things look good, calming things down,” she said.

The task force will include Student Body President Jay Dawkins and 24 other students, faculty, staff and administrators.

“I am very hopeful that this group can make some recommendations that will enable us to promote a climate on campus where everyone will treat everyone with respect,” said Tom Stafford, a task force member and vice provost for student affairs.



Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.