Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 26, 2007 20:25:34 GMT -5
Herman addresses racial threats made on wall of Facebook group By: Matt
Spartz Issue date: 1/12/07 Section: News
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News/Herman.Addresses.Racial.Threats.Made.On.Wall.Of.Facebook.Group-2628\
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er.com> Chancellor Richard Herman sent an e-mail to members of the
campus community on Tuesday in response to racial threats made on a
pro-Chief Facebook group named "If They Get Rid of the Chief I'm
Becoming a Racist."
"The idea that the debate over this issue could degenerate to personal
attacks that threaten the physical safety and well-being of members of
the campus community is something that all of us should find truly
abhorrent," Herman wrote.
The group is no longer on Facebook, but a post made on the group's wall
on Dec. 2 made threats against an unidentified student. The end of the
post stated, "I say we throw a tomohawk into her face."
The issue was exposed through e-mails from the University's American
Indian Studies Program and the Native American House. In a press release
from the two groups, they claim the Facebook posts violate the
University's Student Code for rules of conduct and intolerance.
The Chancellor wrote that the University will not tolerate these types
of threats and has forwarded the complaints to the Office of Student
Conflict Resolution. The office is unavailable for comment until next
week.
"The University will take all legal and disciplinary actions available
in response to the threatening messages," wrote Herman. University
police are unavailable to comment on the specific ramifications.because
it is an ongoing investigation.
Although this group is only now coming under scrutiny, racist posts date
back as far as November 2006. One of the posts stated "But now I hate
redskins and hope all those drunk, casino owning bums die."
In recent months, an event sponsored by a fraternity and sorority on
campus brought racial issues at the University to the forefront,
including criticism of the University for their slow response to such
issues. Wanda Pillow, director of the Native American House and American
Indian Studies program, wrote in an e-mail that she is glad the group
has been taken off the Web site so quickly.
"However, the anti-Indian attitudes that were expressed on the Web page
demonstrate the hostile and abusive environment which persists for
people of color at the University," wrote Pillow.
A forum is set to discuss these race issues on Feb. 1 in Foellinger
Auditorium.
Spartz Issue date: 1/12/07 Section: News
<http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2007/01/12/News/>
media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/01/12/\
News/Herman.Addresses.Racial.Threats.Made.On.Wall.Of.Facebook.Group-2628\
469.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailyillini.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublishe\
r.com
<http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/01/12\
/News/Herman.Addresses.Racial.Threats.Made.On.Wall.Of.Facebook.Group-262\
8469.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailyillini.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublish\
er.com> Chancellor Richard Herman sent an e-mail to members of the
campus community on Tuesday in response to racial threats made on a
pro-Chief Facebook group named "If They Get Rid of the Chief I'm
Becoming a Racist."
"The idea that the debate over this issue could degenerate to personal
attacks that threaten the physical safety and well-being of members of
the campus community is something that all of us should find truly
abhorrent," Herman wrote.
The group is no longer on Facebook, but a post made on the group's wall
on Dec. 2 made threats against an unidentified student. The end of the
post stated, "I say we throw a tomohawk into her face."
The issue was exposed through e-mails from the University's American
Indian Studies Program and the Native American House. In a press release
from the two groups, they claim the Facebook posts violate the
University's Student Code for rules of conduct and intolerance.
The Chancellor wrote that the University will not tolerate these types
of threats and has forwarded the complaints to the Office of Student
Conflict Resolution. The office is unavailable for comment until next
week.
"The University will take all legal and disciplinary actions available
in response to the threatening messages," wrote Herman. University
police are unavailable to comment on the specific ramifications.because
it is an ongoing investigation.
Although this group is only now coming under scrutiny, racist posts date
back as far as November 2006. One of the posts stated "But now I hate
redskins and hope all those drunk, casino owning bums die."
In recent months, an event sponsored by a fraternity and sorority on
campus brought racial issues at the University to the forefront,
including criticism of the University for their slow response to such
issues. Wanda Pillow, director of the Native American House and American
Indian Studies program, wrote in an e-mail that she is glad the group
has been taken off the Web site so quickly.
"However, the anti-Indian attitudes that were expressed on the Web page
demonstrate the hostile and abusive environment which persists for
people of color at the University," wrote Pillow.
A forum is set to discuss these race issues on Feb. 1 in Foellinger
Auditorium.