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Part of UPD investigates 'racist and discriminatory' letter sent to BSU president, December 9, 2015

Text

UPD investigates 'racist and discriminatory'
letter sent to BSU president

Oliver believes letter is response to 'progress' BSUhas made on campus
GABRIELA JULIA
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
University Police is investigating a "rac­
ist and discriminatory" letter sent to Black
Student Union President Micah Oliver on
Thursday.
The letter uses racial slurs and accuses
several organizations, like the NAACP and
the Black Lives Matters movement, of be­
ing racist. Although UPD says the letter
does not pose a direct threat to Oliver, it
has run a number of assessments regard­
ing the text of the letter, fingerprints and
the physical letter itself. And as a precau•tion and per protocol, UB has shared the
letter with the Federal Bureau of Investi-

gation (FBI).
"The sending of the letter is not a crime
under YS [New York State] law," said
UB Spokesperson John Della Contrada in
an email. "However, racist and discrimina­
tory behaviors or conduct have no place at
the University at Buffalo and will not be
tolerated."
The letter, though mailed to Oliver, ad­
dresses the University of Missouri board
of trustees and was sent from an O'Fallon,
Missouri address. The letter is signed with
the name Richard Ganter, but UPD said it
could not trace the letter back to that name.
UPD has been in contact with University
of Missouri Police and O'Fallon Police.
Oliver and UPD believe this exact let-

KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM

BSU President Micah Oliver received a
letter Thursday containing racial slurs and
accusing colored organizations of being
racist. Oliver believes the letter is a result
of the progress BSU has made on campus
this semester. .

ter was sent to numerous organizations be­
cause of the address that was used and er­
rors within the text. Oliver said the sender's
motive may have been to "shake up" BSU.
"I've been very active in the public and
with students, maybe on a level that most
BSU presidents haven't been," Oliver said.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

UPD investigates 'racist and
discriminatory' letter sent to
BSU president

KAI NAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM

Black Student Union members protest
President Satish Tripathi's annual
State of the University address in
October. BSU President Micah Oliver
believes the letter was sent to him
and BSU in par t because of the
actions BSU has taken this semester
in ligh t of the "White Only" ar t project.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

"So I've made myself intentionally acces­
sible for things like this because that has
been BSU's strategy for making the prog­
ress that we have this semester."
Since the ''White Only" art project con­
troversy in September, BSU has held an
open forum to discuss diversity on cam­
pus and the university's policies regard­
ing the project, as well as a peaceful pro­
test at President Satish Tripathi's annual
State of the University address. The orga­
nization also staged a walkout in support
of the black students at the University of
Missouri after racial tension sparked pro­
tests there last month.
" [BSU has] kind of set a new standard
for student associations at this university,"
Oliver said. "But what comes with embark­
ing on new territory are new challenges as
well and that's what we're seeing."
The letter was originally sent to Capen
Hall, as that was where it was addressed. It
was then sent to the Student Association
office because the letter was addressed to
"Micah Oliver President Black Student As­
sociation." Mark Sorel, SA administration
director, opened the letter and called Oli­
ver to the office to explain the content of
the letter.
"I think it was responsible that they
called me and told me they had opened the
letter although my name was on it," Oliver
said. "I take no offense to that."
Oliver said he chose not to read the let­
ter Thursday and opened it Friday.
According to Della Contrada, UPD was
notified Thursday and started an investi­
gation immediately. Deputy Chief of Po­
lice Joshua Sticht and Investigator Timothy

Thompson reached out to Oliver, who was
given the case number that night to check
the progress of the case at any time.
Della Contrada said UB will respond
promptly to protect the safety and well-be­
ing of the entire campus when "acts moti­
vated by hatred, discrimination or bias occur. "
"Diversity, inclusion and mutual respect
are strongly held values of our universi­
ty," Della Contrada said. ''We are commit­
ted to upholding these values at all times
so that everyone in the UB community can
study, teach, work and conduct research in
an environment free of discrimination and
bias."
Oliver said his next step after reading
the letter was to "be transparent" with the
general student body. He said it felt right
to share the letter and it was not an effort
to "be progressive" or receive any person­
al satisfaction.
BSU posted the letter on social media
and people immediately responded and
reached out to Oliver concerned for his
safety.
But Oliver said he's never felt unsafe at
UB and has never felt the need to request
special accommodations. He said UPD
and SA's first concern was his safety when
the letter was brought to their attention.
"I have been comfortable and I've felt
very normal through this experience," Ol­
iver said. "And I hope it's not because I've
become desensitized to these things but
because I am confident in my safety on this
campus."
He said that when speaking to other
news outlets across the country regarding
the letter, he realized there are other or­
ganizations similar to BSU that received a
similar letter.
Oliver said he wants all students who
want to feel welcomed and included at UB,
to recognize that this letter is a "societal re­
sponse" to the work BSU and other stu­
dents on campus have done to create an in­
clusive environment.
email: news@ubspectrum.com