Judicial Board rules on race case
The Student Judicial Board placed a student on disciplinary probation on Monday, April 11 in a case proving that the board will not tolerate harassment or racism of any kind.
“In this hearing, the Board wished to clearly convey that racial slurs are absolutely unacceptable and violate the basic principles which underlie the Georgia College & State University community,” Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bruce Harshbarger said. “Accordingly, they indicated that they would highly recommend to a future judicial board that the student be suspended in the event of a subsequent Code of Conduct or Honor Code violation.”
The defendant, who relieved a threatening e-mail after the incident, will remain unnamed to protect the individual’s safety.
The student said the incident has resulted in daily consequences.
“I have a hard time just walking around now,” the defendant said. “I just don’t feel safe anymore.”
The defendant plead guilty to the charge of harassment, Item No. 5 in the Student Code of Conduct, prior to the hearing and appeared before the board so the board could determine its response.
The Student Code of Conduct states: “Harassment includes but is not limited to, threatening, intimidating, verbally abusing, impeding, telephoning, communicating electronically, following or persistently bothering or annoying another person. Harassment may represent but is not limited to acts based on sex, race, religion, national origin, handicap or sexual orientation.”
The defendant was placed on disciplinary probation, effective immediately, for the remainder of the student’s undergraduate career. Students placed on probation are warned that a subsequent violation of university rules and regulations will result in sanctions of increased severity, including suspension.
The defendant was instructed to schedule a meeting with university counseling services to discuss issues of diversity sensitivity. The student was also given additional sanctions, including participation in educational programming and required involvement with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said Harshbarger.
The hearing took place as a result of an incident on April 1 in which the defendant used a racial slur directed toward another student in the doorway of Napier Residence Hall.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 3 a.m., resulted from a misunderstanding when a visitor of Napier Hall bumped into a student standing in the doorway. The visitor excused himself, but another student standing in the doorway did not hear him.
One of the students standing in the doorway told the visitor that an “excuse me would have been nice,” and at that time, the defendant directed a racial slur at the student who made the comment to the visitor.
At the time of the incident, the offended students contacted Resident Assistant Jessica Scott. Scott went to the defendant’s room to address the situation, and the defendant refused to answer the door.
According to Scott, she had to leave the defendant’s room to retrieve her master key set, and also requested the backup assistance of additional housing staff members. At that time, the defendant contacted public safety from within the room because the defendant felt unsafe.
“I felt like we had started to get things under control and that’s when public safety busted in,” Scott said. “They pretty much came in and completely took all authority that the RD and myself had over the situation. I was more upset with Public Safety than anyone else involved in the situation.”
A citizen’s complaint was filed with Public Safety in regards to the incident and the investigation is currently in its final stages.
“A student came in and made the complaint and we have thoroughly investigated that complaint,” said Director of Public Safety Ken Vance. “If disciplinary action is warranted, we will take the appropriate actions. We very rarely get complaints on our officers and we take this very seriously.”
Junior Marquita Rozier, who was present at the time of the incident, said that a Public Safety officer demeaned the situation, and told her that the slur was “just a word.”
Rozier said that just being present at the time of the incident dramatically affected her, and said she agreed with Scott that Public Safety worsened the situation.
“I’ve never been called that before,” Rozier said. “I was angry because I was belittled.”
Freshman Ajay Monell, who was also present at the time of the incident, said it is important for students to realize the effects of any type of comments made in reference to a person’s race.
“This is the first time I have experienced racism openly and it made me feel different about being here,” Monell said. “It hurt me deeply.”
Harshbarger said he has not seen an instance such as this in his time at the university.
“This was the first time that this type of harassment charge had been brought forward in the 10 years that I’ve been here, so the board was creating something of a precedent in the way that they chose to address it,” Harshbarger said. “While the defendant both wrote an apology and apologized verbally for the use of a racial slur, it’s important to understand that harassment is not merely an incivility or an insult.”
President of GC&SU’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Tanishia Jarrett was also present at the hearing and said there have been two other similar cases this semester in which involved parties chose not to pursue action.
“Racism is different in the South than anywhere else–it is much more out in the open,” Jarrett said. “Here at this university, the NAACP will not tolerate it. Hopefully the defendant will become more educated and the university as a whole will also [as a result of the incident].” Rozier said that although the incident affected her greatly, she will not let such incidences continue to affect her.
“You can’t let it lead your life and I’m not going to do it.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 22 2005. Filed under News.
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