UD Experiences Five Bias-Related Incidents In 11 Months

Sean Newhouse 
Online Editor-in-Chief

There have been five bias-related incidents at UD in the past 11 months. These incidents can adversely affect a student’s sense of safety, even though none have resulted in physical harm. They also counteract efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity on campus.

1. Most recently, there were reports of posters from a white nationalist hate group on campus. This is the second time hate group posters have been put up on UD’s campus in the past year.

According to an Oct. 1 email from Public Safety, these posters were found on college campuses across Ohio.

2. Students were informed on Sept. 13 that a pride flag and sheet sign from a house in the south student neighborhood primarily for LGBTQ+ students were pulled down and thrown in the trash.

This followed reports in July of pride flags being stolen from Oakwood houses. 

See also- Letter To The Editor: Alumni Applaud University Reaction To Bias Incident At LGBTQ+ House & OPINION: ‘When Someone Takes Down A Pride Flag, We Put Up More’

3. The n-word was written in the snow outside of Marycrest in December 2018. The incident was investigated by the Equity Compliance Office, which worked with Public Safety; however, university officials told Flyer News they were “not able to identify anyone responsible….”

4. In March, the university removed posters that promoted a hate group. According to police reports, at least 17 such posters were removed by Public Safety and Facilities.

University officials said no one has been identified as being responsible, but the initial email to students said “[there] is no indication that anyone [from UD] is responsible for posting these signs….”

Wright State University similarly had to remove hate group posters across its campus in February.

5. Also in March, a racial slur was scratched into a whiteboard in Marianist Hall. University officials said no one has been identified as being responsible for this incident either.

Officials said in a statement that it can be difficult to investigate incidents such as these if there is a lack of evidence: “Each investigation is different and depends on the unique facts and circumstances relating to that particular incident.”

The university sponsored an assembly in March in reaction to the hate group posters, the slur scratched into the Marianist whiteboard and the announcement that a hate group rally would take place in Dayton in May.

A diversity survey conducted by the university last year showed that while the majority of students felt a sense of belonging on campus, feeling unsafe was characteristic for LGBTQ+, disabled, historically underrepresented individuals, women and Hispanic/Latinx members of the community.

Sixteen percent of current first-year students come from underrepresented domestic racial and ethnic populations. The class of 2022, current sophomores, is the most diverse class in UD’s history.

Have questions about this story? Email the writer, Sean Newhouse, at newhouses1@udayton.edu