On Monday night, Apr. 8, the DU community got a “DU Alert” from Campus Safety that detailed an incident that took place at the Evans Crosswalk in which three white males between the ages of 18 and 21 committed “assault” and “ethnic intimidation” by “throwing stones or missiles” at a student of color. They assailants were driving a truck and threw a liquid substance at the student of color while yelling racial slurs.
On the following night of Apr. 9, a similar event was reported to Campus Police. Another student of color, second-year Taylor Lucero, was attacked with “stones or other missiles.” Lucero detailed the incident on Facebook, “I contemplated not sharing this, because it was hard to find the right words. But at this point, I can’t hold it in anymore. Last night around 10:15 PM, I was walking back from the library to my dorm. Usually when I walk to places at night, I am well aware of my surroundings. But last night, as I was walking back, a group of white students drove by, rolled down their window, and threw a liquid substance at me. Luckily they barely missed me, and they proceeded to laugh and drive off.”
Lucero also explained the impact that the event had on her, writing, “I am still shaken up about it and dealing with the emotions. Experiencing imposter syndrome while being a minority student on a big university campus is bad enough… I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone. I have reported the incident and have reached out to many people. I just thought that there wouldn’t come a day where I wouldn’t feel safe on campus… But I am okay. I am not going anywhere because I have worked so hard to be where I’m at and I would never let anybody decide where I belong otherwise. I deserve to be here.”
After Lucero shared her story on Facebook, other students of color started to speak up about similar incidents that had happened to them from 2015 to now.
Bristi Basu, a fourth-year student, commented that she was egged by white students during her time at DU. She said, “I am with you. I experienced something similar a few years earlier with being egged at night. You are so strong and deserving of the very best. Keep fighting for what you believe in. One day I believe we will thrive.”
Kyla Peck, a student of color who transfered her second year due to DU’s hostile environment, said, “My heart goes out for you. I can remember those days and nights that my friends and I had similar experiences being on DU’s campus. I didn’t understand it then but I understand it now, DU is a microcosm of the country we’re living in. I’m so sorry that this is the world you’re coming into as a young adult, it’s enraging.”
Autumn Murphy, a fourth-year, said that during her freshman year, a friend and her were walking down High Street when a car drove by and a white male threw a drink at them, similar to Lucero’s experience. She said the man barely missed hitting them with the liquid, and they yelled something that they couldn’t make out because they were in shock.
Lumiere Bukasa, a second-year student, came forward to tell her experience with racism: “I was at work the other day, and one of the residents that lives in my building locked eyes with me, stared dead into my eyes and whispered ‘black bitch,’ as if I couldn’t hear. I told my best friend about it, and we brushed it aside thinking it was nothing. However, these micro aggressions, the racial tensions and the constant reminders that you are a ‘minority’ can be unbearable sometimes. I’ve become so afraid to walk near a group of white men alone, and it shouldn’t be like this. DU has to actively work to change this campus dynamic.”
Other students, who wish to remain anonymous, described other similar incidents having happened to them, such as cupcakes being thrown at them, other incidents of being egged on campus and more.
