ARCC’s response to racial slurs in bathroom has maintained a positive tone 

By MiKenzi Coons

Staff Writer

A faculty member found vandalism with racial slurs in a bathroom in the Visual Arts building immediately following the 2016 presidential election.  

Rick Schneider, a professor in the art department, found the vandalized bathroom stall after one of his evening classes.

“One of my students told me that he had just come out of the bathroom and found the graffiti in that stall and that’s when I went and looked at it,” Schneider said.  It was quickly removed by campus facilities workers. 

Campus reactions

“There were a lot of incidents around the country after the election in educational institutions and I think that would be part of it,” Kent Hanson, Anoka-Ramsey president said. “I also think that it means that we have a little more work to do in our campus to make sure that we have a completely welcoming environment, that we have a culture of concern and caring, and well wishes for everyone.”

Venoreen Browne-Boatswain is the director of the Diversity and Multiculturalism Office where she is committed to creating a safe place of inclusion and diversity throughout the college campus.

“We need to begin to engage with each other a little more so that the things we are fearful of, we can begin to talk about them,” she said. “Fear is what generates things like this.”

Faculty, administrators, and students were disappointed by the vandalism that occurred on campus.

“I had very, very upset students. I think it was a shocker… [The students] were very distressed. It was frightening… I think that people were already quite anxious anyways,”Laura Migliorino, a professor in the art department said.

Some students were completely shocked by the racial slurs.

“Honestly I started crying,” Anoka-Ramsey student Taryn Stilley said,  In response, she created a poster that is posted around campus in attempt to raise awareness of the impact that vandalism and racial slurs can have on a community.

After the vandalism, the campus has upped security by increasing the regular bathroom checks along with actively watching the video cameras around campus. President Hanson said that education will close the gaps of violence and discrimination.

Staying positive 

Many events and programs have been created to stop vandalism and racial slurs on campus. Last semester, Laurie Wolfe, a professor in the psychology department created a project called the Wall of Positivity, where students were able to express positive feelings for others to read on post-it notes. 

Stilley said she is excited about an event on Feb. 28 where students will be painting wooden letters with the inscription “All are Welcome.”  This sign will then be displayed on campus.

Anoka-Ramsey has also been working on its diversity and inclusion plan that is working towards a safe and secure campus for all students.

“In terms of the impact, it’s now for me to begin to address the [campus] climate so that no one, despite extremes, will say anything negative or hostile towards each other because we want to make each other feel safe in this environment,” Browne-Boatswain said. “We have people come in through the educational walls and we’re still separate.”