Late on Sunday, hateful graffiti was spray painted on a Student Center window outside the student club room on the MiraCosta College Campus at 1 Barnard Drive in Oceanside.
“MiraCosta is not immune to a national climate of incivility and racial tension,” noted Superintendent/President Dr. Sunny Cooke, who expressed her deep appreciation to the many students, faculty, staff, and community members who have come forward in the last few days to offer assistance and suggestions. “Their kindness, passion and concern is a strong reminder of the unity of our campus community and dedication to our students,” added Dr. Cooke.
Maintenance crewmembers cleaned the graffiti from the window early the following morning, and those on campus were not exposed to the vile words. “Although the college preferred to not dignify the words by repeating them, in the interest of transparency, we are making the words public,” said Dr. Cooke. The graffiti, which contained the words “Black lives don’t matter” and “N****rs”, is considered to be defacing public property and a hate crime, neither of which is protected by free speech.
The words referenced the national “Black Lives Matter” movement and a September campus event that had featured poetry reading, photographs of African-American victims of police shootings, and chalk outlines of bodies on sidewalks in remembrance of those killed.
On Tuesday, MiraCosta’s Student Equity Department designated a “safe space” in a large campus conference room, staffed with counselors, student services administrators, and student club advisers. The gathered students expressed frustrations, concerns and suggestions for moving forward.
The college:
· immediately increased campus safety and community service officers;
· aggressively began investigating the incident in conjunction with Oceanside Police Department; and
· reached out for help from the North County FBI office.
In the longer term, MiraCosta’s commitment to diverse populations includes many approaches including the few examples listed below:
Developing four Community Councils beginning early next year with African-American, Latino/a, LGBTQIA, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities – designed to increase campus and community engagement.
Created a Student Equity Department that focuses on campus equity and diversity efforts and programming.
Hired additional staff to work with Academic Success and Equity Programs including Umoja, Puente, First Year Experience, and Resources and Assistance for Former Foster Youth.
Joined a national network of community colleges, Achieving the Dream, to provide support and remove barriers to ensure more students of color complete their educational goals.
Expanded outreach events for diverse populations including Encuentros, Barrio Empowerment, and the United Black Student Conference.
Incorporating a campus-wide Equity and Inclusion Statement into board policy to institutionalize the college’s commitment.
Establishing a Social Justice and Equity Center planned to open next fall in the Student Center.
Enhanced professional development, training and educational workshops for employees and students.
MiraCosta College administrators are organizing student meetings on Thursday, December 3, to further discuss this disturbing incident and to consider actions to prevent a recurrence.
Safety on an open college campus is a partnership, and the entire campus community is encouraged to raise any concerns or information about this or any other hateful behavior to MiraCosta College Police at 760.795.6640. More information about the college’s response is available by calling 760.757.2121, x6612.
