At least 14 cars were vandalized with racist language and campus signage at Grinnell College. Writing on one car read “Racism 2024,” and another campus sign was scribbled with a racist slur and “KKK.”The racist vandalism was found before students left for fall break, but racist shouts and comments toward Black students happened throughout the fall and have been happening for quite some time, according to students with the Black Student Union.”There have now been over twelve confirmed incidents of students being called (racist slur), et cetera,” said Loyal Terry, co-spokesperson for the Black Student Union. “White students were being asked where we’re at on campus before this most recent incident.”College President Anne Harris and Grinnell Mayor Dan Agnew issued a joint statement about the racist harassment. The statement called on citizens of Grinnell to mobilize against the acts and make it stop. Actions they ask the community to take include calling the police to report incidents and people who may be involved, photographing the license plate of vehicles harassing others and enrolling in bystander intervention training to stop acts from happening.”We are taking stock of what is likely a systemic issue, and we want to respond in a systemic way,” Harris said. On campus, Grinnell College is responding with new outdoor lighting and a security app that has a “panic button” feature allowing students to immediately call campus security. The college is offering self-defense and emergency kits, evening transportation for students and monitoring along with the availability for black counselors to help. The college also plans to add outdoor security cameras, something it currently doesn’t have on campus. “We have some in different buildings, but not at all to the extent that we would want so we could hold people accountable,” Harris said. Students with the Black Student Union say protecting others, and working with other Black students, feels like another job on top of getting an education.”Getting together with the Black Student Union, and the whole population, talking about what we need to feel safe,” said Bethany Willig, co-spokesperson with BSU. Willig said she spent roughly thirty hours working with students talking about recent incidents on top of working and working on schoolwork.These students believe current measures done by the school don’t go far enough.”We can’t keep doing these little small things,” Terry said. “If we’re not safe, then stop class. I don’t want to be harassed on my way.”The Black Student Union created its own GoFundMe to help black students impacted by recent racist incidents on campus.”To really embolden students and make them feel safe,” BSU activities director Thomas Nserko said.Students say GoFundMe money will be used for counseling and travel for students who need to seek counseling or therapy or for students who don’t feel safe traveling at night to get groceries or food, transportation, and general welfare. It has raised about half of its $25,000 goal. Harris said Grinnell police are investigating the racist incidents. Grinnell’s police chief was not available for comment Monday.”It really does require the money and the support to sustain this,” Terry said. “We’re all exhausted.”
At least 14 cars were vandalized with racist language and campus signage at Grinnell College. Writing on one car read “Racism 2024,” and another campus sign was scribbled with a racist slur and “KKK.”
The racist vandalism was found before students left for fall break, but racist shouts and comments toward Black students happened throughout the fall and have been happening for quite some time, according to students with the Black Student Union.
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“There have now been over twelve confirmed incidents of students being called (racist slur), et cetera,” said Loyal Terry, co-spokesperson for the Black Student Union. “White students were being asked where we’re at on campus before this most recent incident.”
College President Anne Harris and Grinnell Mayor Dan Agnew issued a joint statement about the racist harassment. The statement called on citizens of Grinnell to mobilize against the acts and make it stop. Actions they ask the community to take include calling the police to report incidents and people who may be involved, photographing the license plate of vehicles harassing others and enrolling in bystander intervention training to stop acts from happening.
“We are taking stock of what is likely a systemic issue, and we want to respond in a systemic way,” Harris said.
On campus, Grinnell College is responding with new outdoor lighting and a security app that has a “panic button” feature allowing students to immediately call campus security. The college is offering self-defense and emergency kits, evening transportation for students and monitoring along with the availability for black counselors to help.
The college also plans to add outdoor security cameras, something it currently doesn’t have on campus.
“We have some in different buildings, but not at all to the extent that we would want so we could hold people accountable,” Harris said.
Students with the Black Student Union say protecting others, and working with other Black students, feels like another job on top of getting an education.
“Getting together with the Black Student Union, and the whole population, talking about what we need to feel safe,” said Bethany Willig, co-spokesperson with BSU. Willig said she spent roughly thirty hours working with students talking about recent incidents on top of working and working on schoolwork.
These students believe current measures done by the school don’t go far enough.
“We can’t keep doing these little small things,” Terry said. “If we’re not safe, then stop class. I don’t want to be harassed on my way.”
The Black Student Union created its own GoFundMe to help black students impacted by recent racist incidents on campus.
“To really embolden students and make them feel safe,” BSU activities director Thomas Nserko said.
Students say GoFundMe money will be used for counseling and travel for students who need to seek counseling or therapy or for students who don’t feel safe traveling at night to get groceries or food, transportation, and general welfare. It has raised about half of its $25,000 goal.
Harris said Grinnell police are investigating the racist incidents. Grinnell’s police chief was not available for comment Monday.
“It really does require the money and the support to sustain this,” Terry said. “We’re all exhausted.”