Hate/bias investigation update

November 16, 2016

Last week, we asked the campus community to help us identify the victims and suspects of a hate/bias incident shared on social media by a student. The post detailed two black students being followed by a group of white students who repeatedly called the two black students a racial slur. 

The student who posted about the incident on social media believed it was a recent occurrence. After a thorough investigation by the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity and Towson University police, it was determined that the incident occurred last April, when two TU students were approached by a non-TU affiliate as they walked back to campus. 

At that time, the incident was reported to the Division of Student Affairs, who in turn reported it to TUPD for immediate investigation. Through excellent police work, within days of the initial report, TUPD identified the non-TU affiliate. The individual was ultimately issued a denial of access to campus.

We want to applaud the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity, the Division of Student Affairs, and especially our Towson University Police Department for their thorough and swift resolution of this investigation. Our TUPD is the only campus in Maryland dually accredited by both the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and is also vested with full authority to enforce campus policies, as well as local and state laws.

We cannot underestimate the importance of our collective role and responsibility to maintain a safe environment for all members of our campus. We remind and encourage our community members to  use our Hate Crime and Bias Incident reporting process or contact TU police at 410-704-4444 to allow us to promptly investigate.

In the standard Hate Crime and Bias Reporting process, TU staff communicates directly with the person reporting the incident. When appropriate, the university will share wider communications as necessary to determine the identity of perpetrators, dispel misinformation, and ensure campus safety.