Editorial: University administrators must ensure students of color feel safe, included

In the past two years, campus police have been met with two accusations of racially profiling a student or staff member. In 2017, Broderick McQuarters, flute performance senior, accused campus police of racially profiling him when they entered his room in the middle of the night and accused him of being involved with breaking a Methodist Hall parking garage fence motion sensor. 

The suspect mentioned in the police report was described as an African American male, but other than skin color, he did not match McQuarters’s appearance. McQuarters said his hair was longer, and he was heavier than the person the police described to him. 

Campus police officers made the choice to invade McQuarters’s room in the middle of the night without sufficient evidence to support he was the suspect. This type of behavior can have an influential impact on students’ relationships with campus police. They may feel as if they will always be branded as suspicious because of their skin color. These actions can make students feel isolated and discriminated against. University officials preach diversity and inclusion, yet people of color continue to have negative experiences on campus.

Anthony Edwards, Dulaney-Browne Library circulation technician, filed a grievance against Lieutenant Michael Kavenius for racial profiling and harassment after he said Kavenius made a comment about Black Lives Matter and directed it at Edwards.

While these types of comments may seem insignificant to the speaker, they can make people of color feel attacked.

Having a diverse and celebrated university population is important for many reasons. People of color often do not have the same educational opportunities as other students. It is important for non-marginalized students to learn from and experience other cultures. If diversity and inclusion really is woven into the fabric of OCU, university officials need to practice what they preach and make students of all cultures feel included and celebrated. Officials also need to ensure that all employees go through diversity training and understand the impact their actions can have on the campus community. Many students of color are beginning to lose trust in their university leadership. Officials must take action to guarantee all students feel welcome in the OCU community.