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SALT LAKE CITY — A group of upwards of 40 people gathered at President's Circle on the University of Utah campus Friday to protest and speak out against what they deemed as insufficient responses to recent racist incidents on campus and an administration that they say has been "complacent" about such incidents.
In September, two students allegedly called a contract worker a racial slur and threw sunflower seeds and coffee pods at the person. In December, the University of Utah racism response team announced it was investigating two separate incidents from earlier in the fall — one where feces was found on the door to a student's room and another report of people dressed like the Ku Klux Klan trying to recruit people in a dorm.
These incidents, among others, led the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a student organization at the U., to host Friday's protest.
"We are here today to yet again address the complacency and failures of the University of Utah leadership in the face of racist, patriarchal violence. We have witnessed how empty and useless the responses they currently have in place to such violence are," U. student Ermiya Fanaeian told the small crowd.
During the protest, the group heard from students who condemned university leaders' response to racist incidents and presented ideas about how they believe the U. should have better addressed them.
"The only thing this university has become good at is writing statements promising a serious investigation and disavowing the behavior. It's a smokescreen to the students who are new here and might not know everything that has happened in the last few years," student Gabe Misla said.
Speakers at the protest urged university leadership to sit down with the Black Student Union and students and leaders of color to address the issues.
"We're here protesting, invite us in," Misla implored.
"Make your racist students accountable. If you are an anti-racist university, you will weed out the racists," he added.
Additionally, protesters called for the U. to hire and promote employees of color to positions of power within the university, as well as the defunding of the University of Utah campus police department and asked that the funds that would come from doing so be reallocated to address student needs, such as living expenses, tuition costs, and school materials.
Many of the speakers went on to say that they were disappointed in "performative" statements from the U. following racist incidents that haven't been followed with initiatives to prevent such incidents.
"When the administration says they will remain vigilant — it really means us, the students — will remain victimized, brutalized and attacked," said student Cameron Haskins.
University of Utah student Hanna Msiska voiced her frustrations with U. leadership, saying that students of color pay tuition without feeling safe or protected on campus.
"We don't pay you to fail us," Msiska added. "We are here to excel and you are directly in the way of that."
University of Utah officials responded to Friday's protest by saying "We value our students and community members sharing their perspectives and insights. The University's administration meets regularly with student leaders and will continue to discuss the issues raised at today's event in those meetings. Be certain that we will continue to work as a campus community to make the necessary changes to guarantee our communities of color, and our Black community members in particular, feel safe across campus and especially in their living spaces. We aspire to live by the standards of our Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, that we all have the right to live free of discrimination, harassment, and prejudicial treatment."
The university responded to the September incidents by acknowledging "fear and frustration in our students and community members when they are already feeling vulnerable" with such incidents. "We understand that the community, especially our Black students, are feeling exhausted, targeted and disconnected but we must remain vigilant in striving to ensure that all our staff, students and faculty are able to find a place of safety and belonging as a part of our campus community," the statement said.
"The university strongly condemns the KKK and white supremacy, as the values held by these groups are contradictory to a sense of safety and belonging for our community. We will continue to name racist acts, investigate and hold the perpetrators of these hateful acts accountable when they are identified. Additionally, we will proactively implement efforts that uplift and celebrate our communities as we witness an increasing number of racist acts on our campuses across the nation. This is the time to draw together and call out these acts when we see them."
University of Utah President Taylor Randall said in a statement sent to students in November that "racist and hateful behavior on our campus is an offense to our entire community, particularly our communities of color." He added, "These actions will be called out for what they are — behaviors rooted in hate and racism. I will remain steadfast and vocal in our working with our leadership team to create a safe, welcoming and equitable campus that fosters values of respect, diversity, inclusivity and belonging."
