Student responsible for racist graffiti that was found in Albion College dorm, officials say
Ferguson Hall in the background of a sign at Albion College, Friday, June 30, 2017. (Claire Abendroth | Mlive.com) MLive Media GroupMLive Media Group
ALBION, MI — Albion College and the Albion Department of Public Safety say a student is responsible for racist graffiti found in a dorm last weekend.
Albion police brought the 21-year-old Black male in for questioning on April 6, according to Chief Scott Kipp. The student admitted to creating most of the graffiti, and video evidence from Albion’s Campus Safety Department confirms the statements made by the student, Kipp said.
The student was released after questioning, Kipp said. Once the investigation is complete, the information will be submitted to the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office for any charges related to the incident, he said.
The graffiti, which included racist epithets and multiple references to the Klu Klux Klan, was discovered in a stairwell inside Mitchell Towers on Friday, April 2, university officials said. Pictures of the graffiti were posted by City Watch NEWS Group on its Facebook page.
In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, April 7, college officials said the student was acting alone and acknowledged responsibility for the incidents. The student was immediately removed from campus and placed on temporary suspension while the college conducts a full investigation as part of its student judicial process, college officials said.
“We know the acts of racism that have occurred this week are not about one particular person or one particular incident. We know that there is a significant history of racial pain and trauma on campus and we are taking action to repair our community,” college officials tweeted. “We will change and heal together as a community, because we are committed to doing the work.”
College officials are encouraging members of the community to care for one another and lean on faculty, staff and community members who are supporting them, according to a tweet.
At a meeting between college and community leaders on April 6, Kipp said there were three reports made between April 2-5. ADPS and Campus Safety are continuing to work together to investigate the incidents and make sure no other individuals were involved, Kipp said.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Campus Safety at 517-629-1234 or ADPS at 517-629-3933.
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