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This is the third hate crime on campus in 2 weeks. What the hell is going on?
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UPDATE: Bollinger just sent out an email:
I am saddened to report that one of the bathrooms in Lewisohn Hall was sullied with an anti-Semitic smear. It has been promptly removed and is now being investigated.
I want to make two points. When words are the offender, as in this incident, I am reluctant to draw attention to them and will exercise restraint in doing so going forward. I do not want to broadcast, in any way, the message they attempt to send or empower those behind them. Despite the irrational, destructive hatred that persists in our society and world, we do not accept this anywhere at this University. No one among us should feel marginalized or threatened by words of hatred. We are one community; and as one community, we will overcome these hateful acts and hold each other to the highest standards of respect for the dignity and diversity of every individual.
In response to questions students have raised, I also want to reassure you that we have utmost confidence in our Public Safety officials and in the NYPD. Not only do they have well established communications protocols in place when there is an immediate threat of harm; they distinguish crimes that threaten our physical safety from incidents like the one that occurred today.
Sincerely,
Lee C. Bollinger
(When PrezBo makes opinions and sends out stuff this fast... you know it's serious.)
Tags: Columbia, graffiti, hate crime, racism, statement
Last night's emergency meeting (See Another Columbia Hate Crime) was, to say the least, intense.
At least four of The Blaaag's staff members (as well as members of AAA and AAA PC) were there; so we'll have something to say about that. Soon, very soon.
As for interesting comments... a Spec reader made this one:
Jebus Cristos.... it's a bunch of words written on a bathroom stall. Relax people. My guess is that you're giving this guy exactly what he wants... he tried to stir up a bees nest, and badabing, he did. Congratulations people.
Posted by: anonymous (not verified) | September 28th, 2007 @ 1:20pm
Thoughts on this later; we're too hotheaded right now.
Tags: Columbia, graffiti, hate crime, racism
As verified by the Spec, the following message was found on the wall in a SIPA bathroom:
[WARNING: The following contains racial slurs and profanity]
Attention
You pinko Commie
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The message is likely a backlash from Ahmadinejad's presence; while this is never to discredit the many students who peacefully protested on Monday, it is nevertheless important to know that there are indeed some people, like the individual who wrote this, who are brutally racist and would actually consider it fair game to slaughter millions of innocent people in the Middle East and Africa, or, alternatively, consider the deaths of millions of people to be an innocent joke.
I found myself in the midst of controversy last year after the infamous Minutemen Protest, and had a lot of racist and/or violent hate mail directed at me, including statements like these:
"You are a stupid fucking jerk. penis-boy. Typical Jap."
"Get that noose around your neck a little tigher dipshit, I'll be there to pull the lever and watch you hang asshole...Fuck off and die."
“Hey gook…It's time for White Americans to fight back. By any means necessary…See you on the battlefield, you slant-eyed fuckwit.”
Or, for those of you from the class of 2009 and older, recall the incident in Ruggles 2 years ago where swastikas and homophobic messages were found in somebody's suite. Dangerous minds walk among us.
That said, the Black Students Organization is having an emergency meeting tomorrow night (Sept. 27) at 9PM in Lerner C555 to address the matter. Let's hope this unites the community to stand up against horrible statements like this, lest someone get physically hurt by the people who think these things.
Tags: Columbia, graffiti, hate crime, racism
