Taiwanese students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are calling for more transparency from university leaders after what they describe as a racially motivated harassment incident on campus in late August.
Read more Gas sales temporarily stopped at 40 Triangle stations. Here’s where and why
Shao-Jung Lu said he is still struggling to process what happened.
“Our campus shouldn’t be like this,” Lu said.
He added, “This is really tough to process for me.”
According to students, the incident happened Aug. 29 after a welcome party hosted by the UNC Taiwanese Student Association. Following the event, a group of students took a tour of campus.
Yu-Chao Huang, who was on the tour, said a group of students approached them and acted in a way he believed was intended to mock them.
“There were five or six white males who appeared to be undergraduate students,” Huang said. “As they walked by us, they tried to mimic monkey-like sounds. They put their hands on the ground and walked toward us. They were trying to mimic monkey behavior.”
Student Hsiao-Ting Su said the experience left her shaken.
“It makes me think that they can do this in the center of campus. There were 15 or 16 Taiwanese students in our group, and they still did this. What if someone encountered this while alone? I think they would be afraid to walk on campus,” Su said.
Students said they reported the incident to the University Compliance Office and UNC Police. They said they were informed that video footage of the incident exists.
Lu said students are waiting for updates on the investigation.
“Police have the footage, so we’re in limbo, wondering whether they’re still working on it,” Lu said.
Yu-Hsiu Lien questioned how the university plans to use the evidence.
“The question is how the university is going to use this evidence because university police identified clear footage within the first week after the incident,” Lien said. “But now, more than two weeks later, we still haven’t heard any updates.”
Another student said international students can struggle to know where to turn for help after such incidents.
Read more Photos: NC State battles SEC foe Vanderbilt
“It’s not an everyday incident on a U.S. campus, but when something like this happens, it’s hard for us to know what resources are available to us,” the student said.
The incident is one of two racially charged incidents reported on campus this semester. Students said the other involved Black students who were harassed at Greenlaw Hall.
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee has called on UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts to address the incidents. In a letter, Foushee asked, “How is your administration working to make sure students, particularly students of color, feel safe on campus?”
Lu said students appreciated Foushee’s response.
“We very much appreciate Congresswoman Foushee,” Lu said. “She reiterated her support and reaffirmed to the Taiwanese Student Association that these incidents are not tolerable in our community.”
Students said they want university leaders to communicate more clearly about how reports of harassment are handled.
“We wish there were a more transparent protocol for dealing with hate-related harassment incidents on campus,” Lien said.
In a statement, a university spokesperson said, “Protecting the safety and well-being of our campus community remains a critical priority.”
The spokesperson also said the university has received Foushee’s letter and appreciates her engagement.
Read more Suspended Palisades football coach Jonathan Simmons resigns. ‘It’s been an honor’