WESTFIELD—Over the latter part of 2017, Westfield State University has been the site of several alleged incidents regarding hate-filled speech and one event even causing a campus-wide shutdown.
Westfield State University (WSU) saw several incidents involving their students and others, where reports of racist and hate-filled messages came to WSU Police and officials. In addition, a campus-wide lockdown occurred after a suspicious person was reported on the campus. The incidents have led officials to provide statements on the matter, investigations by police, security cameras and the creation of a Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT), among other actions intended to prevent future incidents.
Beginning in mid-September, reports were made to WSU Police and university officials of racist, sexist and hate speech messages that were posted on a message board in one of the campus’s residence halls. The alleged incident was said to have occurred sometime between Sept. 17 and 19.
The university responded with increased security and WSU President Ramon Torrecilha also denounced the incidents through a campus-wide email. Torrecilha continued to address the issue, calling for students to gather outside one of the halls in the morning hours of Sept. 20.
In addition, discussions were held with groups such as the Student Government Association, while students from groups such as the Black Student Union and others led an effort to meet on the campus’ central green for a rally.
However, according to Tricia Oliver, the Director of Campus Communications, “additional racist, sexist and homophobic incidents were reported and additional investigations began,” but a total number was not confirmed, according to an article from The Westfield News on Sept. 26.
On Sept. 21, the university once again aimed to disrupt the day’s goings on “to underscore the severity, to underscore the fact that these were unacceptable acts and that they would not be tolerated at Westfield State University,” Oliver said in the Sept. 26 article. This disruption was a request of professors whose classes started at 9:45 a.m. to bring their students to the school’s green, where Torrecilha and others spoke.
Then, on Sept. 22, a Day of Acknowledgement had occurred across the campus, with one event for students and another for the entire campus. In addition, an Emergency Response Center was set up during the week that this had occurred and maintained 24-hour operations through the weekend, and counseling services were also expanded, among other measures.
Additional incidents were reported following this however, and on Nov. 7 a report from a student claimed that they were allegedly assaulted by three males while walking between Bates Hall and Wilson Hall on the WSU campus.
From The Westfield News Nov. 10 edition:
“According to the statement, the three males had reportedly approached the student from behind and a shoulder of one of the males had allegedly made contact with the female student, which caused her backpack to fall to the ground. Then, it was reported that a second male had reportedly kicked the bag and a third male had ‘made a threatening racist comment to her.’”
WSU and Massachusetts State Police were brought in to investigate the alleged incident, and Torrecilha also responded to the incident with a statement.
No arrests were reported in relation to this incident.
Less than a week after the reported assault, a campus-wide lockdown was put in place on Nov. 13 after a report was made to police of a “suspicious male” that was on campus. There was an initial report made by one person, with two witnesses later coming forward, as well.
According to a Nov. 13 edition of The Westfield News, the school reported that the suspicious male was “described as an approximately 40-year-old white male that was acting suspiciously, stood at 5 feet 8 inches tall, 200 pounds, with short strawberry blonde hair with a receding hairline and a comb-over that was ‘wearing all black, a bulky vest and carrying a black, bulging backpack.’”
Police later lifted the lockdown after no person was found, and later reported that during the evening a person who matched the description came forward to WSU Police and was not a threat. Again no arrests were made.
On Nov. 14, members of the Education faculty at Westfield State University organized a “Walk Out Against Hate” rally.
Then, on Nov. 15, two more incidents, one including a racist note and another including anti-Semitic symbols, allegedly occurred on the university’s campus, according to a statement released by Torrecilha.
On Nov. 30, as part of the university’s response to the increasing incidents being reported, Torrecilha reported that there would be the installation of over 400 security cameras throughout the campus, with a focus on residence halls. The cameras were expected to be installed as early as Dec. 4.
Another incident was reported on Dec. 3, this time a bomb threat message was reportedly found inside Scanlon Hall. Scanlon Hall was evacuated at 2:30 a.m. that morning. WSU, Westfield and Massachusetts State Police searched the building, including the use of bomb-sniffing canines, and students were allowed to return at 5:10 a.m.
No arrests were reported involving this incident.
