WESTFIELD—According to statements released from Westfield State University President Ramon S. Torrecilha, two more incidents, one including a racist note and another including anti-Semitic symbols, allegedly occurred on the university’s campus on Wednesday evening.
According to statements from Torrecilha released on the Westfield State University (WSU) website, the two reported incidents included one that occurred during the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 15. WSU Police and staff from Residential Life are investigating the matters. In addition, Torrecilha wrote in the statements that, among other changes, security and patrols from campus police will increase and an increase in a reward to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of who may have committed the several incidents that have taken place on campus since mid-September.
“I appreciate the full community’s cooperation and assistance as we respond to and investigate these deplorable acts that strongly contrast the university’s mission and values,” Torrecilha wrote in a statement on WSU’s website Thursday. “Thank you for your continued perseverance in bringing our campus together in unity.”
Since September, there have been several reported incidents on campus related to hate speech and racism. In addition, the school was on a campus-wide lockdown last week after a suspicious person was reported on campus. However, this was later reported to not be a threat after the person was identified, though officials from the university would not confirm who the person was.
The Massachusetts State Police, along with officials at the university and the WSU Police, are investigating the claims.
Torrecilha wrote in another statement a list of several measures being taken in response to these reported incidents. Among the items include increased security on campus with outside sources also being used, security camera installation, the creation of a Bias Incident Response Team, increased counseling services, mandated workshops within residence halls, hotline and on-site support for employees, a consult on the campus’s culture and climate and others.
In addition, Torrecilha also wrote that an increased security presence will occur through the end of the fall semester, including 24-hour monitoring, and that a previous reward of $2,500 was doubled to $5,000 for information leading the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Supplemental counseling was also added and a mandatory meeting was held on Nov. 16 for the residents of the most recently affected residence hall.
