Another swastika found on UND campus

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GRAND FORKS (AP) - Another swastika has been found on the University of North Dakota campus. Four members of UND's anthropology department say campus administrators are not doing enough to address the problem of "institutionalized racism."

The latest swastika was discovered Friday at University Place apartments - the sixth university housing unit marred with swastikas or other racial graffiti in recent months.

UND spokesman Peter Johnson said campus police have a suspect in the latest incident and have forwarded a report to the Grand Forks County state's attorney's office for possible charges.

More than one-third of campus housing units have been vandalized with racially charged graffiti since February. A student has been charged with disorderly conduct in one of the incidents. UND Residence Services also has disciplined at least one student. UND President Charles Kupchella said federal laws bar the university from releasing the name of the student or students and the nature of those sanctions.

Kupchella, who has condemned the racial acts, issued another statement Friday, saying "these kinds of activities … are NOT tolerated."

"When these occur, we follow the processes set out in the Code of Student Life and we act as swiftly and as decisively as possible," he said.

Members of UND's anthropology department, in a letter sent to the Grand Forks Herald, said campus administrators are not acting quickly and decisively.

"These are not isolated incidents but indicative of institutionalized racism on the UND campus," the letter said.

The letter also cites the recent yearlong probation handed down by UND's dean of students office to the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority for hosting a November party at which students dressed in stereotypical American Indian garb and wore red face and body paint.

"We have seen the photographs, and frankly, we are appalled that the sentence handed down is not more severe," the letter said.

It was signed by assistant professors Ann Reed and Marcia Mikulak, associate professor Melinda Leach and office manager Jamie Rerick. They said that "A strong message needs to be sent to the UND and broader Grand Forks community that racism, anti-Semitism and other acts of hatred will not be tolerated."

UND administrators have said student rights must be protected, and that no group is well-served by a rush to judgment.

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