By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-994737.mp3
New Paltz, NY – New Paltz State University of New York has been rocked by an incident that left many students incredulous at the news a racially insensitive sign had been affixed above a water fountain on campus. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports the campus has gone into "healing mode" and authorities have vowed they'll find those responsible...
After a November 8th campus observance of "Black Solidarity Day," a label reading "Colored Only" appeared above a drinking fountain in the Humanities Building. Days later, campus police were notified that a "racially offensive poster" has been placed in an elevator at a residence hall, and that graffiti had appeared in other elevators.
The college sent emails out to students within a day of the incident, which attracted national attention. A campus-wide forum was conducted on November 17th.
Officials and campus police are aware that there are suspicions that the incident may have been some sort of "social experiment" -SUNY New Paltz senior and Vice President of Student Affairs and Governance Ayanna Thomas says if the incident was a social experiment it was wrong.
Thomas says a friend took the picture of the offending sign that was posted on facebook. She notes that students also discovered a tumblr blog featuring a photo of the original "colored only" sign which was captioned "my friend is trying to start a race war at New Paltz" - Chief Dugatkin has interviewed the person who uploaded the post, and that the individual is co-operating with investigators.
Dey Armbrister is affiliated with the campus' Culture Shock Dance Troupe - the Senior, majoring in public relations, has found the incidents at New Paltz State University of New York "disappointing". Campus administrators and student leadership are working together to foster healing and understanding - University President Don Christian says the incident has made its mark.
Ayanna Thomas says its better to have active dialog and recognize what happened so that the healing process can continue. Although "students of color" make up just 5 per cent of the student body, Thomas points out that 5 out of the 7 member Student association executive board members are minorities. Campus Police Chief David Dugatkin says investigators are receiving a great deal of support from students, faculty and staff - Dugatkin is confident there will be a resolution to the case within the next few weeks. Suny New Paltz will hold a faculty forum as well as a "private" campus-wide student forum after the Thanksgiving holiday.