Three weeks ago, all hell broke loose on the Iowa campus of Drake University when a black student claimed to receive racist notes telling her to leave campus. Now it has been discovered that she was the author of the notes.
KIWA Radio News reports:
Drake University Racist Note “Victim” Admits Writing Note HerselfDes Moines Police say one of the alleged victims of a racist note found at Drake University actually wrote it herself.Two female Drake University students reported on November 15th that they had received harassing, racist notes that were slid under their dorm room door. The same students reported receiving a third note of similar nature on November 28th.Des Moines Police say detectives and Drake University officials have determined that the third note was written by one of the alleged victims — an 18 year old female Drake University student. The student has admitted to being responsible for this note.
Kathy A, Bolten of the Des Moines Register has more:
Drake University officials: Four of the five racist notes found on campus were hoaxesAn 18-year-old Drake University student is responsible for four of five racist notes found in residence halls and now faces criminal charges, school officials said.The student admitted to writing one of the notes, officials said. She also reported receiving at least one of the notes, officials said.A Drake spokesman said officials are confident the four notes reported by the female student were hoaxes. A fifth note, received by a different student in early November, is not connected to the other four notes, now considered copycats, officials said.The student responsible for four of the notes faces harassment charges, said Sgt. Paul Parizek, Des Moines police spokesman.The student will also be subject to the disciplinary process outlined in Drake’s Code of Student Conduct, which may result in actions up to and including expulsion, Drake spokesman Jarad Bernstein said.
When news first broke about the notes, the campus exploded in outrage. A rally of thousands of students took place on campus to denounce the hate.
This report from Kathy A. Bolten was published by the Des Moines Register on November 14th:
‘My life’s in danger here,’ Drake University student tells thousands at rally against racismSpeaker after speaker thanked the thousands of people who showed up Wednesday at a Drake University rally to support minority students and oppose recent racist actions on campus.But Drake senior Maleigha Williams pointedly prodded the crowd of mostly students to reflect on what they would do in the days and weeks that follow.“Why do you only show up in times of crisis?” asked Williams, president of the Coalition of Black Students. “Why do you only come when someone asks you to?“Do you guys understand how serious this is? This is a threat on lives.”
Students and faculty also demonstrated by painting one of the streets on campus black. And then a familiar thing happened, demands were issued. WHOTV reports:
Drake Students, Faculty and Staff Paint ‘Painted Street’ Black Following Racist Incidents“The students here have expressed that by doing this they feel seen, they feel heard and they feel valued. And they know that even though the people who have committed these acts over the last week have tried to sow division and discord and try to tell people they aren’t welcome here. This act today lets people know that every one of our students is welcome here,” Drake Director of Student Engagement, Equity and Inclusion Tony Tyler said.Students didn’t stop there. They also made up a list of four demands:- A request for a written and recorded statement from the university president committing to focus on equity and inclusion- A commitment to work with students on student identified issues- Create more visibility for existing equity inclusion groups- Accessible information on students rights
Here’s a video report on the rally from KCCI:
These hoaxes usually follow a similar pattern, ending in a list of demands. They also serve other purposes. Everyone involved gets attention, an opportunity to virtue signal and to feel good about themselves.
In the end, it’s just an embarrassment.
Featured image via YouTube.
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