United Against Hate: March against intolerance

Rabbi Kenny Kaufman, Sacramento Hillel, stands with Jerry Blake, University Union activities program advisor, and Theresa Shelton, Multi-Cultural Center secretary at the rally Thursday in front of Amador Hall.

A march and rally against hate crimes was held on campus on Dec. 3, sparked by the race-related bomb threats to the Department of Ethnic Studies on Nov. 17.

The march moved from the front of Amador Hall to the library quad, where professors, students and civic leaders spoke out against hate.

Otis Scott, chair of the Ethnic Studies department, said the purpose of the march was a show of solidarity “to demonstrate the extent to which the CSU campus in common has concerns against hate and intolerance.”

Despite the damp weather, the crowd of about 200 students, faculty and community members was attentive and appeared supportive. In terms of the success of the march, Scott said, “Any time you can bring people together, that is a success. I was pleased with the results of the rally.”

The university is working to create policies and guidelines in the event future similar threats are made. “The university is going to be reviewing the emergency procedures,” said Jolene Koester, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Scott told the crowd, “We have to have a better set of procedures and policies.” But he acknowledged that there is a fine line between getting the word out and spreading panic.

Koester said the university is taking such threats seriously, especially in light of recent arson fires at Sacramento synagogues. “People are concerned. People are afraid,” she said. “The university has to be a place where people can celebrate tolerance and not be afraid.”

After the bomb threats, which specifically targeted African-American males, President Donald Gerth issued a campus memo stating “the university will not tolerate threats to members of our community and will vigorously pursue investigation and prosecution of individuals or groups making or carrying out such threats.”

Campus officials have met with several organizations to decide on future plans of action.

Shirley Uplinger, vice president for student affairs, has led the meetings on behalf of university administration. “Our goal is ensure that every department chair has direct communication with the groups when they are targeted,” Uplinger said. “We will continue the discussions until we are certain we have adequate measures in place. I think the meetings are going well”

The event was sponsored by Black Faculty/Staff Association, Bilingual Multicultural Education Department, United Students for Action, and the Anti-Racism and Latino Commissions. The university was unable to identify an additional sponsor listed on the flyers as DSA.

Uplinger was caught off guard by the mention of DSA and the Anti-racism & Latino Commissions as rally sponsors. “I’m not familiar with either of these organizations,” she said.

The State Hornet was unable to verify these organizations through either the Student Activities Office or the Faculty Senate.