Anti-Hate Rally at UWRF

In response to anonymous racist threats against Black and Asian students at UWRF, we the students organized an Anti-Hate Rally and March which we conducted on Monday, November 2, 2009 the date of the threatened racist action. Participants were asked to wear our school color red as a sign of solidarity with the threatened students.

We had a good turnout. A number of members of the wider River Falls community, including the Mayor, were also in attendance. Several speakers spoke movingly of their emotional reaction to the racist threats, and also of their determination not to let such threats deter them from getting their rightful education. After the speeches, we marched around campus and many students shouted their support. It was the most inspiring event I have witnessed while attending UWRF.

Many thanks to the Campus Police, and also River Falls PD. Their substantial and visible presence helped to reassure everyone that law enforcement takes the issue of equal protection under the law seriously. Perhaps we really are making some progress in this country, after all.

                                           
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Racist Vandalism at UWRF

Vandalism found in Davee Library

To the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Community,

On Sunday evening, a UWRF student discovered and reported race-related graffiti in the Chalmer Davee Library. This vandalism threatened violence against African-American and Asian campus populations on Monday, Nov. 2. We condemn such cowardly and ignorant actions and reaffirm our commitment to creating and fostering a diverse and inclusive campus culture.  

The UWRF Police Department (in cooperation with external agencies as necessary) is investigating this incident. Criminal acts of this nature are addressed by the legal and campus judicial systems with potential consequences including (but not limited to) expulsion.

Campus leaders joined me in meeting with organizations representing the threatened populations and are developing a plan to address the well-being of our campus community. Details of this plan will be shared with the campus in the days to come.   

We ask that members of the campus community remain vigilant over the next week. If you encounter similar incidents of vandalism, or witness any troubling behavior, please contact the UWRF Police at 715-425-3133.  

I encourage you to join me in a show of support by signing and posting in a visible location the “I Pledge to Speak Up” sign available for download on the UWRF Inclusiveness Web page. This commitment to respond to bias and prejudice is an important step towards ensuring UWRF is a University where individuals can learn, live, and work in an environment of mutual respect.

Dean Van Galen
Chancellor

University of Wisconsin - River Falls
410 S. Third Street, River Falls, WI 54022-5001 USA (715) 425-3911
Copyright © 1995-2009 University of Wisconsin-River Falls


                   
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Microsoft sucks at Photoshop ( and Racial Sensitivity!)

Check out how, for their Polish Web site Microsoft cut off the Black man's head and put a white dude's head on instead! But they left the same Black man's hand there! New craze in Poland: "hand tanning!"

Or is Microsoft trying to say they have a new product that can change the racial composition of your IT team, thereby "empowering" it? What kind of power, White Power?

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