Racial backlash flares at colleges

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Across the country, universities have become a focal point of anger directed against Arab-American, Muslim and Southeast Asian students in response to last week's terror attacks against the United States.

Women students have been spat at and had their traditional hijab scarves pulled off. Male students have had turbans plucked from their heads or been targeted because of their beards.

"People have yelled, 'You people are going to die,' 'The Holy War has begun,' and 'Go home,' even at those who've been born in San Jose," said Altaf Husein, president of the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada.

Early Sunday morning, a Boston University student was stabbed in the back and arms after leaving an off-campus fundraiser for victims of the World Trade Center attacks. Police are investigating whether it was a hate crime. No arrests have been made.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee says it has compiled a list of more than 250 violent incidences on college campuses in the last week, from direct threats of specific violence to beatings and assault and battery. The number of incidents has surpassed those received during the Gulf War and the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

"These are not 'go back to your country' types of harassment, but crimes that have to be dealt with by cops on and off campus," said Hussein Ibish, director of the ADC. "The university is kind of a dangerous place to be for people perceived as Arabs and Muslims right now."

Even Latino and African-American students are being targeted.

Ibish says the committee itself has received thousands of hate calls and e-mail threats, requiring it to have police protection.

The day of the attacks, the University of Colorado at Boulder sent out an e-mail message to 34,000 students and faculty urging people not to take anger out on minorities. The school set up counselors in 19 locations and mobilized local and campus ministers. Professors were urged to spend class time discussing what happened. Faculty members met with Muslim students to discuss safety concerns. Residence halls invited campus police to discuss what to do in the case of harassment or violence. The University's Student Union even passed a resolution condemning any person who retaliates against a student, faculty or staff member.

On Tuesday night, four men dressed in black approached a Muslim student of Arab descent as he was walking near the University of Colorado's library.

"They asked him, 'What are you doing in this country?' and used racial epithets," said Lt. Mitchell Irving, of the campus police.

The next morning, each of the library's six columns were discovered spray-painted with graffiti: "Arabs Go Home," "Nuke sand n-----rs" and "Blow up Afghanistan" on a nearby bench.

Ironically, the motto etched in stone above the library's columns is: "Enter here the timeless fellowship of the human spirit."

The university quickly covered the columns with garbage bags and sandblasted the graffiti away.

"You hear people making comments that 'they should all be put in concentration camps,' totally random comments from fellow students. Or you hear somebody in class say, 'We need to hit them hard.' And I ask, hit whom, hit where?" said Amina Nawaz, president of the Muslim Students Association, who was born in Boulder.

"The campus is an intellectual place to be in. Most people here are here to learn and aren't ignorant. But ignorant people are everywhere. You can't get away from it."

The University of Colorado has set up a series of lectures to discuss the breakdown of stereotypes. On Monday, it will host a five-hour teach-in, with professors from religious studies, political science, history, economics, and journalism.

"It will be like a love-in from the '60's," said Bobbi Barrow, executive director of University Communications. Audience members will get to ask questions on issues ranging from the consequences of last week's attacks on the Middle East to the media's role in shaping perceptions.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee says much of the intolerance can be reduced simply by learning more about Arab and Muslim Americans and Islam.

"Students need an institutional response," said Marvin Wingfield, education director of the ADC. "Students can also make sure others are not isolated or stigmatized. You can call friends to see how they're doing. And if they're not in school, you can let them know they're your friend and that you're sorry about what's happening."

On Wednesday night, more graffiti was uncovered at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

"They were anti-racist," said campus police lieutenant Tim McGraw. "'An eye for an eye leaves us blind,' 'Say no to hate' over a dove and peace symbol."

He added that the graffiti artist still wouldn't escape criminal mischief charges if caught.

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The Muslim Students' Association of the United States and Canada
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

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