After weeks of racially-motivated abuse against an African-American freshman at San Jose State University finally came to light, university president Mohammad Qayoumi sent out a plainly worded email to the faculty, staff, and students taking responsibility and laying out a specific plan for change.
"Dear Spartans,
When I expressed outrage last Thursday at the race-based abuse and mistreatment of an African-American SJSU freshman by several suite mates, I did not clearly express our accountability for what he endured.
By failing to recognize the meaning of a Confederate flag, intervene earlier to stop the abuse, or impose sanctions as soon as the gravity of the behavior became clear, we failed him. I failed him.
How such abuse could have gone unchecked or undetected for weeks is being methodically untangled, as it must. An independent expert will soon be named to lead a task force that will examine the facts, our policies and practices, and propose reforms..."
Read the full letter and plan of action here.
While Qayoumi's words may provide some solace to the SJSU campus, a vocal group of students have criticized the administration for ignoring their concerns. Student Gary Daniels told the San Jose Mercury News that black student groups had "tried for a year to meet with Qayoumi, and that they had sent him ideas for making black students—who make up about 3 percent of the student body—feel safer and more welcome on campus."
Last week, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office filed misdemeanor hate crime and battery charges last week against the victim's four roomates. Today, Qayoumi appeared with civil rights leaders before the campus "black power" salute statues.
"The community will not stand idly by and allow for any student of color to be terrorized simply due to the color of his skin," said the Rev. Jethroe Moore II of the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP.
Going forward, the president's plans include creating a task force to investigate the crime, continuing to meet with with NAACP leaders, and hosting additional training sessions for dorm RAs.
Photo Credit: Gary Reyes/Bay Area News Group
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