Purdue speaks out against racism

West Lafayette, Ind. (WLFI) - Since last week's election, Purdue Freshman Emmy Piecuch said she has been surprised by the racist remarks she  has heard on campus.  She said the rallies and discussions show solidarity against discrimination.

"It's a really good thing that we are bringing all this up and people who have racist issues are going to have to deal with it," Piecuch said.

Senior Octavia Williams agreed.  Williams says when the country elected its first black president, it stirred up racial intolerance that has always existed below the surface.

"Just getting the issues out now would be better to just face them...I feel like mainly on Purdue's campus it brought most of them forward because
the people who did paint the tree probably had these feelings all along but they were never so insistent to paint something on a tree where most of the black community congregates," Williams said.

Sophomore Taylor Moss voted for Barack Obama.  She said the election has given the campus a reason to discuss race and move forward. 

"Like some people just weren't ready for a black president.  And some people they took it kind of  hard.  It's something new they're not ready, I guess.  Part of it is the reason all of this stuff has been happening on campus," Moss said.

Nolan Vann questioned how effective the rallies or discussions will be in fighting racism.  But,  he is optimistic about one thing: the Obama presidency.  

"It means anybody can do anything no matter their color, race, gender.   It means anyone can do anything," Vann said.

Taylor Mann echoed his remarks, "I don't think it's anything male, female--white, black--he just wants to the change the country for the better and I'm excited to see him do that," Mann said.

The owners of Triple XXX met with Ronard Black of the Purdue NAACP on Wednesday.   Owner, Carrie Ehresman said the meeting went well and they are holding a news conference tomorrow afternoon.