Actions

FBI aware of DePauw University discrimination incidents, is working with university officials

FBI in contact with DePauw over racial incidents
Posted at 7:42 PM, Apr 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-18 20:11:49-04

GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- The Federal Bureau of Investigations says they have been contacted regarding the recent racially-charged vandalism on and around the DePauw University campus. 

Students have been protesting after at least five racially motivated messages have been found on and near campus in the past six days.

Some involve racial or homophobic messages written in bathroom stalls or in rocks at a nearby park owned by the university. University officials addressed the slurs and protests the following day.

The FBI issued the following statement regarding their involvement.

“We are aware of the incidents on DePauw University’s campus and have been in contact with officials at the university."

The incidents are now receiving national attention after student protesters interrupted an event Tuesday evening featuring actress Jenna Fischer, star of ABC's new sitcom "Splitting Up Together."

 

 

 

In response to that protest, which the mediator says lasted approximately 15 minutes, Fischer agreed to donate her fee from the event to the NAACP, The Anti-Defamation League and the Trevor Project in the name of the students of DePauw University. 

READ | Actress Jenna Fischer to donate payment from DePauw event | Students interrupt Jenna Fischer event at DePauw to protest recent racialincidents

Then on Wednesday, student protesters interrupted a press conference with the DePauw University President Mark McCoy chanting, "Meet our demands. We are not safe."

WATCH | Protesters interrupt DePauw president during pressconference

For about 20 more minutes, McCoy and the group discussed the incidents, and what the university is doing to stop them from happening in the future.

You can watch that press conference in the video player below. 

 

 

 

The group had planned to protest again later Wednesday, but after meeting with the president and university officials canceled any other planned protests to continue working on a solution. 

University officials say they have agreed to allow the students a temporary AAAS House and will eventually discuss the return of their original space. 

MORE TOP STORIES | PC: Downtown knife attack suspect targeted pregnant woman | Employee finds body of 'small adult' inside tote in the back of a U-Haul van at Indy facility | Analysis: Assault rifle ban would have little to no effect on Indianapolis gun crime | Infant safe after being left in baby box outside fire station in northern Indiana | Family: Suspects were playing video games when 1-year-old Malaysia Robson was killed

Top Trending Videos