Students, Past and Present Respond to Racist Acts on Campus at Purchase College

On March 18, swastikas were found drawn on walls in several dormitory buildings on the campus at SUNY Purchase. Two days later, nooses were also found drawn on the walls. On Friday, March 27th, the college announced that a suspect is in custody on charges of aggravated harassment for the swastikas. It is still unknown who is responsible for drawing the nooses. That investigation is still ongoing. What is clear is that these incidents have gotten under the skin of students, faculty and staff alike at Purchase.

I talked with former and current students to get their take on these incidents.

Chris Thomas received her BA from Purchase in 2009. When asked how she felt about the current series of events she said, “I think that Purchase has always been a very laid back and low security campus that has both been good and bad for us. So it is not surprising that such things can happen on that campus. It’s happened before.”

Ms. Thomas is referring to an incident in 2006 when things got a little out of hand on a show on the school’s cable access channel, PTV (Purchase TV). Already known for pushing boundaries, one of the show’s hosts came in in blackface in retribution for something that had happened on a previous episode. Students protested and demands were made to the Purchase Student Government Association (PSGA) to write standards for programming.

In her senior year, Chris was president of OAPIA or Organization of African People in America. Their mission is to give voice and safe space to African-American students to explore a variety of topics. At that time, the group was open to everyone and was helpful to not just creating safe space, but to also allow others to join in the discussion to learn from each other. Chris can’t help but wonder that if OAPIA is still as vibrant as when she was at the helm, whether these recent racist incidents would have occurred at all. “I feel bad because as I understand, OAPIA dispersed after I was president so I don’t know if there is anyone to take a stand on campus about things like this.”

Brian Kerr, of Mamaroneck is a sophomore, majoring in political science at Purchase. He’s Chief Justice of the PSGA Judicial Board and in that capacity, settles disputes between the PSGA and its recognized groups and interprets the PSGA Constitution in case of a dispute and assists with funding groups as well. He attended a forum the school administration held on March 24 to bring the school and greater community up to date on the investigation and to take questions specifically from the school community. Brian was encouraged by the turnout for the forum. He was less pleased that the college president, Howard Schwarz was not there. “I can understand if he was traveling for something that can’t easily be rescheduled,” said Brian. “But if it was something that could have easily been postponed or rescheduled, he should have done so in order to show solidarity.”

There were questions from the audience and there were just as many statements about the lack of diversity in faculty and the fear that the school will go to the extreme in terms of security. One male speaker said he hoped that (extreme policing) wouldn’t happen because the thought of that “scares him.” Brian agreed with the statement about the lack of diversity in the faculty. “That’s been my experience at Purchase.”

Brian says that cultural clubs on campus have made an effort. “Clubs like OAPIA, SOCA, Latinos Unidos, and Hillel, exist to give students a platform.” “But,” Brian said, “the school could do better with lighting the campus.” He says he’s been on campus as late as 2 am but didn’t feel particularly vulnerable. He does point out though that as a commuter student, he probably has different experiences than those students who dorm. “I don’t stay on campus late very often.”

It is now up to the school administration to determine how they will proceed in an effort to address the disparate needs that came to light as a consequence of these blatantly racist acts. Nothing does better to spur change than the light of day.