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SIUC Administration Looks For Source of Hate-Filled Video

People
Brad Palmer, WSIU Radio
left to right: interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Stettler, interim Chancellor Brad Colwell and USG President Kevin Gettis

Administrators at Southern Illinois University Carbondale say they are vigorously investigating the source of a controversial YouTube video that calls for the lynching and beating of black students.

During a news conference on campus Monday, interim Chancellor Brad Colwell said he wants to ensure the campus and the entire region that leaders are aware of what's going on.

Colwell said he and his team are working non-stop to find out who posted the video and to make sure students are safe.

"We're on top of this. We're paying attention. We have resourced deployed. We're working hard on this. We worked into the weekend when we were first made aware of the video. I mean we've been working every angle possible."

Colwell said he believes the video, the graffiti painted on Faner Hall, a planned student protest on May 2 and other issues recently on campus are symptoms of even bigger issues at SIUC.

"I do ask for people's patience, because unfortunately when we're having to deal with the safety and concern of students, that's just one more thing we have to deal with and take care of before we can really get to some of the systemic issues on campus."

Colwell said the university will hold forums and open dialogues in the near future to address the students' concerns.

Undergraduate Student Government president Kevin Gettis said his group and Graduate and Professional Students Council are co-sponsoring a students only forum this week to address these concerns.

"So, every issue that students are having, that are surrounded largely by this specific range of events that have taken place, we'll have an open forum. Every person is going to express every possible solution, every problem. We really just want students to get that out there so we can relay that back to the administration."

The students only forum will be Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Guyon Auditorium at Morris Library.

SIUC Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Kevin Bame said administrators are investigating to see if these incidents are connected.

"I think there's somewhat of a common theme among these incidents. You look at some of the demands of the May 2 (Strike) Committee compared to some of the videos we've seen, there's an overlying tone of budget concerns, MAP grant concerns, racial climate on campus. There does seem to be one group feeding off another. It is possible, but it's just too early to tell."

Leaders at SIUC are also preparing for whatever may happen on May 2.

An unknown group is calling for students to strike that day to protest the lack of a state budget, the rising cost of a college education, as well as racism and sexism allegations on Carbondale campus.

Bame said offices are monitoring social media to make sure they're prepared for everything on that day.

"We start picking up signals about what a potential protest on May 2 would look like. We have every reason to believe that will be a safe protest, if it does occur, and that we're putting measures in place to be responsive to anything that may get out of hand."

Chancellor Colwell said leaders are taking the students' concerns seriously. He said this is a time for the campus community to come together, not break apart. Colwell would like to see May 2 become a Day of Unity at SIUC.

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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