Members of the Virginia Tech chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are voicing concerns about the administration's response to a reported racially motivated vandalism that occurred at the school last weekend.
A hate crime investigation is now underway in Blacksburg. The office door of the Virginia Tech Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in the university's student center was allegedly smeared with a brown substance and defaced with a racial epithet. Facilities management workers who discovered the vandalism reported it to Virginia Tech police Sunday morning.
In response to the incident, the Virginia Tech vice presidents for student affairs, multicultural affairs and business affairs, as well as other administrators, met with student leaders Monday. The Virginia Tech officials subsequently posted a statement on the school's Web site condemning the act, Virginia Tech spokesperson Mark Owczarski said.
"It is a very serious response to this event," he said. "The University has been in touch with students and has addressed their concerns."
But Dianne Reed, executive spokesperson for Virginia Tech's NAACP chapter, said she does not believe that Virginia Tech administrators responded adequately to the incident.
Reed also said Virginia Tech NAACP members, in collaboration with other student groups, plan to present a statement suggesting ways the university can support minority students. The plan suggests that Virginia Tech offer more multicultural programs for students and provide more diverse books at school libraries.
"We want to tell the University what it needs to do to make [the school] welcome," Reed said.
Another concern Virginia Tech administrators must address is security at the student center, NAACP Faculty Advisor Hayward Farrar said. He noted that the corridor where the NAACP office is located does not have surveillance cameras.
Owczarski said improving safety measures will be a part of the Virginia Tech administration's ongoing response to the incident.
Farrar added that administrators need to continue to promote diversity to support current students and recruit prospective minority students.
"Really strong action needs to be taken," Farrar said. "I hope personally that the president [Charles W. Steger] and the BOV will come out with a statement. I am confident they will do that."
Reed also said she wants Virginia Tech administrators to uphold their commitment to diversity.
"The main thing is that the University needs to account for what it says it does," Reed said.
Though the incident upset local NAACP members, Farrar said the members managed the incident well.
"The NAACP handled the situation in a mature manner," Farrar said. "I'm optimistic Virginia Tech will take a positive response."
Read More
Paul Cherukuri leads U.Va.’s entrepreneurship strategy as its first chief innovation officer
By Bertie Azqueta | 20 hours agoPaul Cherukuri was recently named the University’s first chief innovation officer in August, a role within the Office of the Vice President for Research that was created to help expand student entrepreneurship and start-up activity at the University.
How Youngkin reshaped Virginia during his term
By Ford McCracken | 3 days agoAfter nearly four years in office, here is an overview of how Youngkin changed Virginia.
Spanberger, Callsen and Laufer outline legislative priorities following election victories
By Brendon Bordwine | 3 days agoAs the campaigns drew to a close following sweeping Democratic victories, attention now turns to how Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Charlottesville-area Dels. Katrina Callsen and Amy Laufer will shape the future of Charlottesville in their upcoming terms, especially for students at the University.
