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UW-Eau Claire Announces ‘Rapid Action Task Force’ After Racist Incidents On Campus

Task Force Will Make Recommendations Aimed At Improving Diversity, Inclusion

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Schofield Hall at UW-Eau Claire
Schofield Hall, the main administrative building at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Photo courtesy of UW-Eau Claire

In response to recent racist incidents on campus, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is creating a taskforce to recommend actions to improve equity, diversity and inclusion on campus by the end of January. The campus is also hiring a third-party investigator to review the university’s athletics programs.

In September, a note left on a dorm room door told a student identifying as Native American to “Go back to the rez” and included a racial slur. On Nov. 20, five members of UW-Eau Claire’s football team were suspended after using the social media platform Snapchat to mock a campus Black Male Empowerment group with the use of a picture showing Klu Klux Klan members before a burning cross.

UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt called the incidents “incredibly painful” and “traumatic.” He said the actions did “real damage to the psyche and spirit of our campus.”

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“Unfortunately, we know that they will happen in the future,” said Schmidt. “We are a reflection of society. Racism is a global problem. It certainly exists across this country. As a reflection of society we hope to become a better reflection of society through our efforts.”

At a press conference in UW-Eau Claire’s student center Monday, Schmidt announced the creation of a “Rapid Action Task Force for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” comprised of 16 members to identify specific actions the university can take to improve the climate on campus. A press release said the task force met prior to the press conference and will make recommendations to Schmidt by Friday, Jan. 31.

Members of the task force were in attendance during the press conference but did not speak. Faculty co-chair of the task force, Jan Larson, was quoted in the campus press release as saying the campus can do better in its response when racist, homophobic or sexist incidents occur.

Schmidt said many incidents come from a place of ignorance, not malice.

“Most of the people on this campus are not racists. But because of a lack of knowledge and understanding may say or do things that are hurtful and painful for people in a more diverse community,” he said.

He said one way to get ahead of potential issues with new students — known on campus as Bluegolds — is by increasing training for students.

“I think we can do a better job of being clear with the student body what’s in our Bluegold code of conduct and helping people understand how those actions negatively affect other people,” said Schmidt.

Athletics Department Review

Aside from the taskforce, Schmidt also announced the campus would hire a third-party to conduct a review of the university’s intercollegiate athletics program. Athletics Director Dan Schumacher stood beside Schmidt during the press conference, Monday. He said he and coaches at UW-Eau Claire expect “every student athlete to embrace the equity, diversity and inclusion goals our campus community has outlined.”

“The racist imagery posted was reprehensible and not consistent with our values at all,” said Schumacher. “In order to ensure our department is living the mission of equity, diversity and inclusion I’ve requested to have a third party undertake an independent review of our athletic programs.”

Reporters at the press conference were provided with a memo sent to students and staff at UW-Eau Claire that said the five students involved with the racist social media posts in November are facing disciplinary sanctions. But the memo states the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act doesn’t allow the university to share how the students were punished.

Attempts to reach the president of UW-Eau Claire’s Black Male Empowerment student organization, Lewis Balom, were unsuccessful, Monday. But in a previous interview on WPR’s regional talk show “The West Side,” Balom said the group wants to see long-term changes made on campus, particularly regarding hiring faculty and staff who can help shape conversations on race.

“We’re going to continue to fight because we want to see progress, long after we’re gone,” Balom said. “My members, we just want long-term justice, that’s all.”

UW-Eau Claire’s Student Senate passed a resolution Nov. 25 condemning the racist discourse used by members of the campus football team and asking administration to find penalties reflective of the infractions.