The bias reporting Web site Just Report It! received an account Thursday of an image discovered on a desk in a classroom in New Cabell Hall.
Patricia Lampkin, vice president for student affairs, said the report described "a desk that had a graffiti in ink [of] a confederate flag and a tree drawn with a noose" hanging from it.
Third-year College student Martrice Gandy said she reported the incident.
"Tuesday in class I noticed a picture on one of the desks, and after some inspection I saw that it was a confederate flag and a noose," Gandy said. She found the illustration during her philosophy class, she said, adding that she had never sat in the same seat before the incident.
"My first reaction was shock; I wouldn't expect it from any other students," Gandy said. She added that she did not feel the images were a direct threat to her, however, as whoever drew them could not have know who would be sitting there next.
After discovering the image Tuesday afternoon, Gandy said she reported the incident Thursday, noting that she "used the Just Report It! Web site, and it was easy to use."
Gandy said she was impressed by the swift reaction from the administration.
"I was surprised at the quick turn-around. I turned it in on Thursday [and] by evening I was getting calls back and had to go meet with them," she said.
The report was addressed soon after it was received and "two deans responded immediately and within the appropriate time period," Lampkin said, adding that students, alongside deans, are working through the incident toward a proper and timely response.
According to Maurice Apprey, dean of the Office of African-American Affairs, Gandy and another student came to speak with him on Thursday, recounting the story of the discovered illustration. Apprey said he encouraged the students to continue to speak about the incident, to seek attention from deans and to "cooperate with [University] Police Chief [Michael] Gibson to take care of the issue."
Apprey also said he asked the students to "gather a forum and make it as broad-based as possible, because this is a situation that should outrage everyone," noting that the forum will be composed of a panel of student leaders as well as deans and guest speakers.
Gandy said the forum will likely occur in March, but an exact date has not yet been set.
The Just Report It! system was established a year and a half ago, according to William Harvey, vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity, who noted that any student who witnesses or experiences an act of bias can file a report.
Both Harvey and Lampkin encouraged students to take advantage of the Just Report It! system when they have concerns.
"We have a good response system helping work with our community," Lampkin said. "We want the University to know that this kind of thing is just not acceptable in this community of trust."
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