Western Washington University cancelled classes today on all their campuses after racial threats were found online.
President Bruce Shepard announced the cancellation yesterday, after finding what he called “disturbing and very threatening” hate speech, posted on social media and targeting students of color.
Some speculate the threat came after the school proposed changing their Viking mascot.
“We don’t have 100 percent confidence in that,” WWU spokesman Paul Cocke said. “The timing infers it.”
Tuesday morning, President Bruce Shepard released a statement that read,
“Yesterday, we observed social media being used for hate speech targeted at Western students of color. I need to be VERY clear here: we are not talking the merely insulting, rude, offensive commentary that trolls and various other lowlifes seem free to spew, willy nilly, although there has been plenty of that, too. No, this was hate speech.
These are likely crimes in my view (and in the view of those in the criminal justice system we immediately involved). I cannot go into the details of an ongoing law enforcement investigation. Other than to assure you that this investigation is the highest priority of our campus law enforcement colleagues.
We do not know if the perpetrators are Western students. If not, they face the criminal justice system. If so, they also face the criminal justice system. And, when it comes to being associated with Western, I promise you it will not be for long.”
An investigation is currently underway.
Western Washington is the latest of many schools to face racially charged online threats, but we are glad school officials are taking them seriously.
In the beginning of October, the shooter who opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Oregon and killed 10 people posted a warning to the online message board 4chan.
This story is developing. Refresh for more details.
