Voices are heard at forum regarding bias incident

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue students and faculty members came together to develop a plan to fight against racism.

Tuesday night's forum was held by the Black Graduate Student Association after the "N" word was written on a whiteboard on campus last week.

Participants laid out immediate, intermediate and long-term plans to help prevent these kind of racial acts from happening in the future.
    
The Purdue police chief explained to the crowd that because the comment could be erased and there's wasn't any permanent damage left behind, the act was classified as a bias incident and not a hate crime.
    
Incoming University President Mitch Daniels was also a topic of discussion. Some students and faculty members said they are concerned he won't be aware of the diversity issues the Purdue community is experiencing.

President of the Black Graduate Student Association Tyrell Connor said he's not surprise Daniels came up in conversation.

"One of the purposes of this forum was to get things out there that people are trying to be quiet about. Some things on this campus are a taboo and I think it's going to shake some things up," said Connor.

Purdue Dean of Students Danita Brown said the individuals responsible for the bias incident will face disciplinary charges.

The decision of how severe they will be has not been determined yet. She said penalties could range from a warning all the way up to expulsion.