Racial Slurs Found
Incident Labeled Hate Crime
Jeffrey LeFrancois
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News
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On Feb. 2, the University reported discovery of racial slurs against blacks at One Pace Plaza. Since then, the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force has classified the incident as well as made an arrest in the case.
The hate crime was discovered on Jan. 27 in the fifth floor in the men's bathroom of One Pace Plaza. The University initially kept the information from the public to prevent hindering of the facts for the case under the immediate direction of the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force.
Following a brief investigation, an arrest was made on Feb. 7 by the NYPD. The individual arrested for the crime was a University student and will be facing charges in the criminal court. The University has not released the name of the arrested person.
NYPD Deputy Chief of Public Information Michael Collins could not be reached for comment on the arrest.
Last semester, numerous similar incidents on both University campuses were discovered, forcing the enactment of a number of University programs to promote tolerance. President David A. Caputo held a town hall meeting to discuss the issues and began enforcing his "Not on My Watch" policy.
The program, announced on Nov. 14 of last year, "encourages all of us to take responsibility," according to Caputo.
Senior art history major Devon Reyes, who is pursuing law school, expressed frustration: "I don't understand how this can happen in New York City. It's one of the most diverse cities in the world. Why come to Pace if that's not what you want?"
Caputo has been an advocate of expression, freedom, and diversity as he has constantly reiterated in all of his messages to the University community that "I condemn any actions that seek to insult and demean others. The perpetrators of these acts are not welcome at [the University]," further stating, "We remain a University community that values its diversity."
Reyes said, "It's good that the President has enacted this policy because this needs to be stopped, no matter what."
The hate crime was discovered on Jan. 27 in the fifth floor in the men's bathroom of One Pace Plaza. The University initially kept the information from the public to prevent hindering of the facts for the case under the immediate direction of the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force.
Following a brief investigation, an arrest was made on Feb. 7 by the NYPD. The individual arrested for the crime was a University student and will be facing charges in the criminal court. The University has not released the name of the arrested person.
NYPD Deputy Chief of Public Information Michael Collins could not be reached for comment on the arrest.
Last semester, numerous similar incidents on both University campuses were discovered, forcing the enactment of a number of University programs to promote tolerance. President David A. Caputo held a town hall meeting to discuss the issues and began enforcing his "Not on My Watch" policy.
The program, announced on Nov. 14 of last year, "encourages all of us to take responsibility," according to Caputo.
Senior art history major Devon Reyes, who is pursuing law school, expressed frustration: "I don't understand how this can happen in New York City. It's one of the most diverse cities in the world. Why come to Pace if that's not what you want?"
Caputo has been an advocate of expression, freedom, and diversity as he has constantly reiterated in all of his messages to the University community that "I condemn any actions that seek to insult and demean others. The perpetrators of these acts are not welcome at [the University]," further stating, "We remain a University community that values its diversity."
Reyes said, "It's good that the President has enacted this policy because this needs to be stopped, no matter what."
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