Kean University Police Investigating Twitter Threats Targeting Black Students

A 21-year-old MI Technological University student was charged with disturbing the peace by making threats through social media against black fellow students. The coalition told NJ Advance Media that the NAACP is investigating the university after several black, female employees of Kean were terminated “on suspicious grounds”. While students and administration have been known to bump heads on issues of racism-seen recently in the events at the University of Missouri, where the administration failed to act on incidents of on-campus racism resulting in an uproar from students, faculty and news media-the community members of Kean were able to prove that, in times of need, students and administrators can work together to establish an outcome that benefits everyone.

Nov 17, 2015 Members of Concerned Student 1950 join hands at a press conference during protests last week. As a black student it was always an unstated expectation that I justify my presence on campus. She was among the leaders of the peaceful demonstration, which apparently sparked the threats.

Students at the University of Southern California have similarly proposed a campuswide action plan, which includes the appointment of a top administrator to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. “Especially since Kean is very welcoming”, Mejia continued. However, history has a tendency to repeat itself, and people will always find ways to dismiss demands for racial equality and the recognition of humanity as extreme. “I mean, these threats are serious”.

Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell, who attended Wednesday’s rally, acknowledged that black students face issues of representation and climate at UC Berkeley.

If you don’t want attention, don’t do things that ask for attention. “We’ve got to let these people [know] we’re not fearful”.

Authorities say the threats showed up November 10 on the anonymous location-based messaging app Yik Yak.

Kean University police are also part of the hunt for the person or people behind the tweets, but that search, while inconclusive for now, has major partners involved.

“That investigation involves law enforcement from the federal level, state and local municipalities”, said university spokesperson Margaret McCorry.

In a statement on the Kean University website Wednesday afternoon, the school’s president said serious threats – a few targeting black students – made via Twitter late Tuesday night remain “unsubstantiated” and the investigation is ongoing.

A turning point in the activists’ efforts came when over 30 of the school’s black football players called a strike on Saturday, November 7, a week before the team was scheduled to play against Brigham Young University on its home turf.

That’s a bad precedent, and it gives students a awful power – the ability to call the cops on anyone whose views are not to their liking. McGhee who said she is a member of the search committee, concluded that “It is time that the needs of our minority students be heard and not overlooked”.

“I am offended that this group would issue such an inflammatory statement without knowing anything about Dr. Farahi or Kean University”.

“This coalition lacks scrutiny”.

I understand that universities-that Duke-may be more tolerant or accepting than other places, but we do not get a pat on the back for being better than an appallingly low standard.

She added that she hopes to see more integration and more education shared between groups at Mizzou because “it’s a huge divide between whites and blacks”.

On Friday, Fordham Lincoln Center hosted a blackout to stand in solidarity with Mizzou.

The post I believe is more fitting is: “To the black students at Mizzou, we the students at _, stand in solidarity with you”.