SPOKANE — Gonzaga University is investigating a racist incident that occurred in a campus parking garage last week.
Security cameras captured four people, who appear to be college students, writing racist and antisemitic messages on a dirty car, according to campus police. A police report has been filed.
“We have not been able yet to confirm the identities of, sometimes security footage is not as it’s a little more grainy than you’d like it to be, but we are actively working on that. And if we can identify who those folks are, there will be accountability,” said Kent Porterfield, vice provost for student affairs.
The university’s president wrote to the campus community: “This conduct is wholly unacceptable. It stands in direct opposition to our commitment to the inherent dignity and worth of every person. We condemn this behavior unequivocally.”
This is one of several racist incidents at Gonzaga this year. In February, Black Student Union members reported harassment and racist comments during an event. Throughout the year, the university says hateful messages have been spread on an anonymous app called Fizz that is popular among students.
“There were definitely experiences that students are having on campus that made them feel less like they belonged, less supported, less seen,” Porterfield said.
These incidents prompted the school to form the Presidential Task Force on Accompaniment, Safety and Belonging. The group meets weekly to address challenges and changes needed on campus.
“Some of this work is about communication, some of it’s about accountability structures,” Porterfield said. “There’s stuff in there around, leadership and development and training for faculty and staff and students that is pretty involved.”
The task force will continue working through the summer. They hope to create an easier way for students to report incidents before fall.
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