CLAYTON — Washington University officials have been unable to confirm that racial slurs were used by some students in an incident last month at a campus dining hall, Chancellor Andrew Martin says.
“After reviewing all available evidence and speaking with witnesses, we cannot conclusively determine that this happened, and if it did, who said it or whether it might have been directed at any individual,” Martin said in an email Wednesday to students, faculty and staff.
Martin said, however, that students involved in “disruptive behavior” in the March 21 incident — which included throwing eggs — had been referred to “the university student conduct process.”
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University spokeswoman Julie Hail Flory said that the school’s Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter was suspended and the Alpha Phi sorority chapter was placed on probation through Dec. 1.
David Cook, who heads a union local that represents dining hall workers who were on duty the night of the event, most of whom are Black, said Thursday he was “appreciative” that the university had investigated. He also said he appreciated “some of the steps they’ve taken.”
But he reiterated that the union members had heard racial slurs although they weren’t aimed at them or other individuals.
Cook said that the workers, when interviewed for the investigation, couldn’t confidently say which individual students had used such terms. “They didn’t want to throw an innocent person under the bus,” said Cook, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655.
During the March 21 event, Cook has said, students threw eggs throughout the dining hall and at glass doors, spit at each other, climbed on tables and were loud. While students didn’t aim eggs or slurs at the workers, the staff felt intimidated and uncomfortable, he said.
Taylor Robinson, president of the university’s Association of Black Students, could not be reached for comment Thursday on the chancellor’s report.
Earlier this month the association had said dining hall workers that night were largely racial minorities and had called for the fraternity and sorority to be barred from campus and students involved to be expelled. Neither Kappa Sigma nor Alpha Phi returned requests for comment Thursday.
While the chancellor said the university didn’t confirm racial slurs were used, he emphasized that use of such words directed at any individual or group “to harass, intimidate, incite or inflame is completely contrary to the standards of behavior we expect in our community.”
Martin also said while eggs weren’t thrown at the workers, “the actions of those involved showed great disrespect and disregard for their well-being.”
“I want to assure our entire community that we have taken this matter seriously and continue to take necessary steps to address any misconduct,” he said.
Cook said that missing from the chancellor’s statement was “what measures are going to be put in place to ensure we don’t have a repeat of this.”
Protesting Boeing
Martin, the chancellor, in his email also reported on the disruption of an event Saturday at the school’s Graham Chapel by protesters upset with the university’s ties to defense and aviation company Boeing. At least a dozen people were arrested.
Echoing a previous statement by the university, Martin said the demonstration was “a blatant violation” of school policy that bars activities that disrupt university functions. The event was for newly admitted students and their families.
“Everyone who remained in the chapel and refused to leave after several requests was issued a summons charging them with disturbing the peace and trespass,” Martin said. “We will pursue remedies against those who received summons.”
Martin said the school’s conduct process also has been initiated for students who refused to leave. He said people not associated with the university were issued a letter telling them they will be subject to arrest if they return to the campus.
Last month, the WashU student union adopted a resolution calling for the school to divest from Boeing because the defense contractor supplies weapons sold to Israel.
The university partners with the company on an engineering program, and the Boeing Center, a research hub, is part of the business school.
Martin said the incidents at the dining hall and the chapel “run counter to who we are.”
“Both of these incidents were unacceptable and have caused harm to members of our community and to the university itself,” he said. “I am writing to you today because we all should expect better of the WashU community.”
Blythe Bernhard of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This story was updated Thursday at 3:37 p.m.