Pacific University is actively addressing recent incidents of hate speech directed at Black students on their campus, reported through the anonymous social media platform Yik Yak. Administrators of the Oregon institution have confirmed that these threatening posts have been relayed to law enforcement in an effort to pinpoint the individuals involved. "Hate speech and violence are not consistent with Pacific’s values and will not be tolerated," the university expressed in a statement acquired by KOIN 6 News. The university affirms that threats against any member of the campus community are taken with utmost seriousness.
Amidst the turmoil, a concerning post surfaced on Yik Yak that included racial slurs and a disturbing image of a noose. Pacific University students, shaken by these occurrences, are being supported by the institution through the Office of Student Support, the Counseling Center, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility, according to details from KGW. Dr. Pierre Morton, the vice president of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility at Pacific University, voiced his disbelief at the persistence of hatred in 2024. He noted that the political landscape often encourages individuals to express sentiments anonymously that they would not share in person.
In an attempt to counter the anonimity granted by platforms like Yik Yak, the university is undertaking measures to trace the IP addresses linked to the threatening content. They aim to report the individuals behind these acts to the Department of Justice to be watched for hate crimes. Additionally, the university is collaborating with the Forest Grove police in investigating the threats laid out. "We received a notification of students going through some angst about some posts that were on YikYak," Morton stated in a segment aired by KATU. "It's an anonymous application that many college students use to connect and to communicate on. These posts were recognized as being threatening to our students."
The mood on campus was one of uncertainty and fear among the students, with freshman Kiarah O'hare-pham relaying her concerns to KGW, "Little worried for the community, little scared for everyone." Pacific University is actively working to uphold its values against hate speech and address the mental well-being of its student body as it navigates this challenge.
