WWU Campus Advisory: Update on acts of campus vandalism and hate

University police are investigating recent messages of hate and bigotry on the Western Washington University campus.

A racial epithet was scrawled on the “Wright’s Triangle” sculpture near the Ross Engineering Building. Nine name tags on residents’ rooms on four floors of the Nash Residence Hall as well as a Nash stairwell were defaced with racist language, a homophobic slur, and a threat of sexual violence. And a poster in front of Arntzen Hall was defaced with racist language. Police said it is unclear if the slurs on the door name tags were directed at specific students. The incidents were first reported to University Police at 10:57 a.m. Sunday morning. The name tags have been replaced, the stairwell cleaned, and the racial epithet removed from the Wright’s Triangle sculpture.

University Police is conducting an active, ongoing investigation into the incidents and believes they are related and may be the work of a single suspect. University Police and WWU Student Public Safety Assistants will be conducting extra patrols of the campus, and Western’s Facilities Management is on call to respond to any new incidents of graffiti discovered tonight. University Residences will be reaching out to students in Nash Hall.

As President Sabah Randhawa said in his message to campus today, the path to a truly safe campus depends on fostering a culture in which every member of the community takes personal responsibility to contribute to the solution.  If you see or hear anything that is concerning, or if you have any information about these incidents, please contact University Police immediately at (360) 650-3911.  You can also call the University Police anonymous reporting line at (360) 650-SAFE (7233).

There are resources available for WWU students, faculty and staff in the wake of these incidents.

• Western's Counseling Center staff is available to meet or speak with any student. The Counseling Center can be reached during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) by calling 360-650-3164. For after-hours crisis support call 360-650-3164 and select Option 1. 
• Western’s LGBTQ+ office is an available resource weekdays by calling 360-650-7500.
• The Washington State Employee Assistance Program is a resource available for faculty and staff. EAP counselors are available for in-person or phone appointments. The EAP office can be reached by calling 877-313-4455 (toll free). The toll-free after-hours help line is 866-704-6364. TDD/TYY users, please call via WA Relay at 711.