UW-L chancellor doesn’t hide racist drawing found on campus

Instead, tries to use it as an
example to educate students

It seems as if acts of racism have become more frequent and/or more open at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

A drawing of a lynching found in a campus dorm has led to UW-L chancellor Joe Gow spearheading conversations to bring awareness and educate students about racism.

Instead of trying to hide such things, Gow distributed the photo of that drawing (right) in an email (below) to start a conversation about racism on campus and to educate the student body. Multiple listening sessions have been scheduled at the school.

“We need to know about these things,” Gow said, “and that’s why I felt it was very important to share that image with everybody because I believe there are people who are skeptical about (whether) these things are really happening. And yes, they are, and we need to know.”

Last semester, students and faculty argued about whether a Confederate flag should be displayed on campus, after one was seen on the grill of a construction truck on a campus construction site.

Gow says the university tries to prevent acts of racism, but at the same time, people on campus have the freedom to express their opinions – even if viewed by others as hurtful.

“It’s going to take some time, education and changing attitudes,” Gow said. “And a lot of that, people bring to our campus from their earlier experience, so there has to be more work done in high schools and grade schools. 

More listening sessions about race will take place early next month.

Gow says it’s possible that people hadn’t come forward to complain much until now.

“It may be a case where we haven’t had the reporting happening the way we are now, and that’s a positive,” Gow said.

The U-W-L campus says the number of reported instances of hate messages or racism has doubled in the last three years.

GOW CAMPUS-WIDE EMAIL
(click pic to go to link in email)