Penn State Intercom......April 30, 2001
University announces plan
for diversity initiatives
The full text of the Plan to Enhance Diversity at Penn State is on the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/diversityplan.html
The
University administration has announced a plan for expanding its diversity
programs. The plan comes on the heels of a student demonstration that
grew out of hate mail that threatened the life of a black student leader
on the University Park campus. The University continues to look for any
information that could lead to an arrest in the case.
"We will turn to every local, state and federal agency available to press this investigation forward," President Graham B. Spanier said in an e-mail message sent to the 41,000 students on the campus. "This is a federal crime that will carry an enormous consequence for the person who made the threat. But more than that, it is an attack against everyone in the Penn State family."
The release of the plan incorporates a number of suggestions from student leaders in the Black Caucus, who in the end were not in agreement with some elements of the plan.
"Several parts of the plan have been under development during this academic year," said Spanier. "Other aspects of the plan include ideas offered by student leaders more recently. Students contributed greatly to the discussion leading to these initiatives. Penn State and the Commonwealth will be well-served by these efforts to enhance diversity," he said.
"Some of the ideas proposed by student leaders were not workable as presented, but I am confident that the elements of the plan announced today will be seen as a great step forward for Penn State," said Rodney Erickson, executive vice president and provost.
The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus contributed suggestions following a recent visit to campus by three of its members.
The initiatives outlined will, among other things, establish an Africana Studies Research Center within the College of the Liberal Arts. More support is planned for the Department of African and African-American Studies. The increased staffing is planned to support the additional enrollments in this department that is expected following a review of the University's existing diversity requirement, which is part of the current general education requirement.
"The outline calls for strengthening the role of the vice provost for educational equity position at Penn State, and I am immensely pleased with the opportunity this will provide us to enhance and mainstream our diversity efforts," said Terrell Jones, who currently holds that position.
"I was impressed with the tenacity and commitment shown by African-American student leaders and a broad coalition of faculty, staff and community leaders who have spoken up as a powerful voice on these issues," Spanier said. "We join that chorus."
This latest incident began Friday, April 20, when an anonymous hate letter, addressed to a black student leader, was received on the University Park campus by a reporter for the Daily Collegian. In addition to the threat against the black student leader's life, the letter contained a number of racist claims and statements, and implied that the body of a black male could be found at a local site.
As soon as the reporter notified authorities, the Penn State police immediately began an investigation, called in the FBI and notified the State Attorney General and the U.S. Postal Inspector. The administration immediately arranged with University Police Services for 24-hour protection for the threatened student. After a thorough search of the area, both on the ground and by helicopter, authorities turned up no evidence of a crime. By Sunday evening, University officials confirmed that all black male students had been accounted for.
On Friday evening, April 20, and several times since then, University administrators have met with students of the Black Caucus to try to craft an approach to the situation. At the direction of the FBI, the University has not released some specific information on the threats so as not to interfere with the investigation.
The threat received April 20 is the latest in a series of hate communications received by University students. E-mail threats were received by scores of African-American and other minority students a year and a half ago. These were traced to a computer lab in Philadelphia. Threats also were received earlier this school year. These came through the U.S. Mail and were postmarked from Altoona, Blair County.
Spanier condemned the threats, and called for "all our students, faculty, employees, alumni and friends to stand together, united against these racist acts." He asked that anyone who might have evidence related to this new threat and the earlier crimes to come forward and notify investigators by calling University police at (814) 863-1111. The University and the Penn State Alumni Association jointly are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
A march against hate planned for April 24 by the University to bring together students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community was taken over by the Black Caucus, which turned it into a rally against the administration. While many members of the crowd dispersed when it became apparent that the march would not take place, the student leaders urged the crowd to remain. They demanded a meeting with Spanier, who agreed to meet with them at the Robeson Cultural Center. After keeping Spanier waiting for two hours, a contingent of students led the crowd from Old Main to the Robeson Center for the meeting. Many students have been sleeping at the HUB-Robeson Center since that night, and were still camped out at press time.
Another event connected with this incident took place Saturday, April 21, when 26 people, most of them Penn State students, stormed onto the field at Beaver Stadium just as the annual Blue-White football game was set to begin. The protesters refused to leave the field and were arrested after repeated requests. The protesters said they were trying to draw attention to racism and the threats.
The University has processed the summary citations for trespass to 23 students and 3 others who were arrested at the Blue-White football game. Administrators asked the police, in consultation with the district attorney's office, to consider the summary citation charges in lieu of the more serious charges of misdemeanor criminal trespass. The police and district attorney have concurred with this approach.
For updates on this story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/flash/.