The Black Student Union (BSU) held an emergency meeting last Thursday to reaffirm demands made to the administration last semester after multiple incidents involving racist graffiti on black students’ dorms. The meeting was held in the wake of concerns about treatment of their decorations and the quality of food following a cultural collaboration with the dining hall.
The Black Student Union says that they did not receive clear communication as to when and how to remove the decoration they put up for the collaboration. When they went to take them down, the decorations were returned to them in a trash bag. BSU members say the action feels disrespectful and disheartening.
With that comes two new demands for “extensive cultural research and respect with dining take-overs” and “respect and research in any and all events surrounding black culture.” A full list of demands can be found on their petition.
“Exhaustion” was the watchword of the emergency meeting, with many students expressing a lack of energy to take action after what feels like repeated failures to respond from campus.
That message resonates in the simple call to action at the end of the petition, “Black students at CSU Monterey Bay have experienced racial discrimination on a continuous basis and WE ARE TIRED!”
Among the full list of demands were biweekly updates on security measures, a zero-tolerance policy for instances of racial discrimination, an African/Black Studies Department, more transparency in campus emails regarding incidents of racism, and improved security cameras in the dorms.
The petition also lists three key demands which the BSU says were never followed up on.
- Discrimination to be addressed more directly.
- RAs to enforce no whiteboards on doors, if that is not possible, a written section located in community standards.
- Update fire safety alarms on doors.
Recently, the university announced the first steps in an initiative to improve campus security, directly referencing a recent incident of graffiti found in the loading dock area of the OSU. The plan includes a three-phase upgrade and replacement of cameras in the residence halls.
A university spokesman was able to confirm this decision was made with input from the Black Student Union and Associated Students.
“In addition to the ongoing investigation, we are strengthening prevention and response efforts across campus. Actions underway include expanded education and training, enhancements to security camera coverage where appropriate, and increased oversight and monitoring in impacted areas,” said an email from campus officials.