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Two weeks ago, four N.C. State students painted racist remarks in the university's Free Expression Tunnel.
Read Students' Apologies
Read Chancellor Oblinger's Update
Free Expression Tunnel Act
After the Nov. 4 elections, the four students-- whose names have not been released -- wrote racist death threats in the tunnel against President-elect Barack Obama.
Upon further investigation, the university says federal and local authorities concluded what they did was not a crime so no charges were filed.
Now student leaders are debating whether to recommend punishment for the four.
"Even though it is freedom of speech, you know, hate speech should never be tolerated. And this university needs to make sure we send out a message that we don't tolerate it," said senior Zenobia Drammeh.
But no disciplinary action was taken against the students because the university says the words were written in the Free Expression Tunnel.
"Free expression is one thing and just deliberate hatred is another thing," according to Tyler Hawn, a junior.
The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP describes the university's response as "tepid," and is calling for the expulsion of the students.
Last week, student government leaders failed to pass a bill calling for the expulsion of the four students.
"Personally I really don't feel that whoever did it, they should be expelled from the university indefinitely. I just think that they should possibly be suspended," said first year graduate student Samuel Scott.
Now student leaders are pushing another bill, this time calling on the university to punish the students.
"We encourage them in the midst of determining that punishment to think of creative options like having them do community service in the African American Cultural Center," according to Student Senate President Greg Doucette.
The resolution also recommends the university make policy changes.
"We ask them to take a look at the university's policies and regulations regarding incidents such as this and make sure they're adequate to address anything that might happen in the future," Doucette said.
If student leaders pass the resolution, and the student body president signs off on it, the bill will then go to the chancellor who will have final say.
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By Pat on 11/20 01:24 AM
I did want to say I commend the Chancellor of NC State for handling the situation as well as he has, although I still feel these 4 guys don't need all of this training of how to act and for how they were thinking at the moment and we should not be punished for feeling anger and thinking something on the spur of the moment. The apology was very heartfelt to me and I thank them all 4, bc I feel it wasn't only for NC State but all of America. How many times have kids said I HATE MY PARENTS AND SOME EVEN HAVE WRITTEN IT DOWN AND SENT THREATS TO THEM ON LITTLE HANDMADE AIRPLANES FLYING FROM THEIR ROOMS WHILE THEY WERE IN TIMEOUT, LOL. This was immature momentary thinking, without violence, should not have been plastered allover the news to upset the world, WE BETTER BE WORRYING ABOUT SOME OF THE TERRORISTS THREATS WE ARE RECIEVING, like (Ben Laden II). They don't seem to think the President-elect is FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE, NOW THIS COULD BE A REAL THREAT TO US ALL. Get real folks we are all Americans here no matter what race, and even if you are over here with no citizenship you are now part of us, sure we all have our own opinions, how others act different than our way of thinking but when it comes down to our country we can all stand together I HOPE.
By Pat on 11/20 12:44 AM
A hate crime would be an act of violence against someone bc of race, meaning any race other than yourself, not only Blacks,and, or anyones choices you don't agree with such as gays, animal rights.etc. Freedom of speech is exactly what it means, freedom. Why anyone would call this a crime is beyond me, now if these 4 guys had guns and ammo ready to go make an attack on the President-elect it would be a crime but as far as I UNDERSTAND IT IS NOTHING LIKE THIS. NOW AS FAR AS STOPPING SOMEONE FROM HATING SOMEONE OR SAYING THEY DO WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO STOP THAT, I DON'T CARE HOW HARD WE TRY. SOME PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE HATE FOR OTHERS AND WE CAN'T LOCK SOMEONE UP OR PUNISH THEM FOR THAT, BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THESE 4 GUYS DON'T HAVE THE HATE THEY'RE BEING ACCUSED OF, BUT PUNISH THEM FOR SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT GUILTY OF AND YOU ARE INFLUENCING THEM TO HATE.I have heard and seen worse things than what they wrote all over the internet and I doubt any of it is serious, just people shooting off their mouths. The incident with Lindsey Lohan was an actual crime for example. She was wearing a fur coat and someone actually assaulted her bc of it.They attacked her with a hate crime now by throwing flour all over her clothing. I think the NAACP NEEDS TO GO BACK TO OUR MAMA'S OLD SAYING (STICKS AND STONES CAN BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME).
By I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here on 11/20 12:15 AM
The whole "ensure [sic]" thing on the broadcast just now was uncalled for. The word is appropriate and synonymous with "insure." Bill F, isn't there a car wreck or apartment fire with "dramatic video" you should have on instead? You'd certainly report it better without looking foolish. More media malpractice, straight from the teleprompter, read by the carefully coiffed.
By Retired Marine on 11/19 09:20 PM
No matter how "offensive" or "hateful" or distasteful speech may be, we should be very careful about censoring and censuring free speech.
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