Dear Editor,

On Monday, April 8 at 9:18 a.m., Central Connecticut President Dr. Zulma Toro issued an email informing all students and faculty that on Sunday, April 7, there were hate speech messages found on our campus.

Within the email, President Toro expressed her strong disapproval for this behavior and that there will be serious charges following the investigation. As encouraging as this sounds, the Black Student Union formally expresses our dissatisfaction with the campus community’s blatant disregard for the safety of its students of color.

This incident, as expressed by President Toro, is something that will not be tolerated on our campus; however, this will not be the first time that the Black Student Union has addressed this problem. It has now become a difficult reality for CCSU students of color to accept and expect this form of behavior. Hate speech, as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary, is speech expressing hatred of a particular group of people. What was not expressed within President Toro’s email was the form of hate speech that was found on our campus.

The hate speech that was discovered had been black, bolded lettering of the word “N***er.” The hate speech was found to paint a wall of our Student Center, a building dedicated to providing services and support programs to enhance the growth of the campus community that now has become a canvas for those to express their hatred toward African-Americans.

Throughout the course of American history, a word that has been used in degradation and humiliation of a race of people has been proudly plastered on the heart of our campus. This form of hate speech was deliberate in making a statement. The word was chosen in expression of not only hate, but to intimidate and strike fear in the heart of CCSU’s African-American student body. In upholding the core values and beliefs of the Black Student Union, we seek to develop a black consciousness at CCSU and to improve the cultural and social development of black students in [relation] to their past and future.

Satisfying our mission in uplifting students of African heritage would be impossible if this form of hate speech and behavior continues to plague our campus community. We implore you to join us in unity to combat this injustice and become an agent for change in making our campus a welcoming environment for all of its students.

Sincerely,

The Black Student Union