DePaul Campus Hate Crimes

To Whom It May Concern:

Three times in the academic year of 2008 2009, vandals painted a Swastika occurred on the DePaul University Lincoln Park campus. The Swastika, symbol of the German Nazi party, is a symbol of hatred and represents a movement which brutally and indiscriminately slaughtered men, women, and children, healthy and diseased, old and young alike, with a focus on Jews, homosexuals, and gypsies. The displaying of such a symbol is a clear and undeniable message of hate; the reflection of an attitude of apathy, blatant disregard for human life, and malicious intent towards portions of the DePaul student community.

Unfortunately, these events are only a symptom of an underlying and more widespread disease among the student body on campus: intolerance. There is no question that on campus there exist such hatemongers with willingness and intent to harm blacks, homosexuals, Muslims, and other various minority populations on campus together with Jews. All this, despite events and activities organized by the Cultural Center; Holocaust Remembrance Day events run by DePaul Hillel, Center for Jewish Life on Campus; and other activities organized by the various student organizations devoted to providing a home on campus for the members of its diverse community.

The students action has proven to be insufficient to prevent hate crimes on campus such as those mentioned here. Even the coordination by various student organizations of a multilateral anti-hate vigil at the end of the 2008 2009 academic year may prove to be insufficient to prevent further hate crimes on campus. As such, we, the undersigned, respectfully request the University to take the following actions:

- Install or relocate security cameras to effectively monitor all corridors in dormitory buildings, lecture centers, and other public areas
- Incorporate mandatory racial tolerance activities into orientation for all students
- Organize a yearly anti-hate week on campus through the Office of Student Life, with special emphasis on involving Greek life in the activities in order to involve a broad spectrum of students
- Design, where lacking, a formal response plan for violations of religious and cultural tolerance
- Create, where lacking, a disciplinary committee to review cases of racism on campus; judge said cases; and penalize students found guilty of violating ethical standards of conduct for DePaul students
- Actively promote awareness of the existence of such committees and services to the student body at large via e-mail reminders and clearly displayed signs in high-traffic areas of the campus

We are proud to be students, alumni, and other concerned members of the DePaul community, and we thank the University for its high moral standards as guided by its Vincentian values. We are confident that the University will implement these changes in the interests of better serving and preserving the safety of its valued students.