Student groups question MUPD hate crime report

Group leaders believe hate crimes often go unreported.

By Jessica Silverman

Published Oct. 13, 2009

Two hate crimes were recorded in the 2009 Campus Safety and Crime Report released by the MU Police Department.

MUPD Captain Brian Weimer said the department records all incidents reported and provides information through Clery reporting, media and similar sources to ensure the community can make wise choices.

"The entire campus strongly encourages the reporting of any crime, especially hate crime," Weimer said. "We want them to be reported so they can be investigated and we can get the victims the assistance they need throughout the situation."

MU Equity Director Noel English said there are a lot of places people can go to get help.

"As far as I know, we aren't getting a huge number of inquiries or complaints," English said. "We want people to come forward early before (problems) become complaints or grievances."

English said it's a possibility MU lacks the kind of culture that would encourage people to come forward.

"We're marketing the office and bias reporting options so we can eliminate the possibility that (people) aren't coming forward simply because they don't know where to get help," English said.

MU Equity launched an online bias reporting form about a year and a half ago, English said.

"(The report) is to get a clear picture of what the problem is," English said. "Hate crimes are just a small subset of the bias incidents that can be reported online, either anonymously or with contact information. There are all kinds of things that should be reported. In general, hate crimes are a part of crimes that go unreported."

English said she knew a student at another institution who dropped out because he was beaten up. He was the victim of a hate crime and never reported it or got help.

"I've been very aware since then that people may need encouragement to come forward," English said.

Ryan Black, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Resource Center coordinator, said with anything like the campus crime report, it's a case of under-reporting.

Four Front co-chairwoman ChaToyya Sewell, a Maneater columnist, said she tends to be skeptical of the statistics for campus hate crime.

"Hate crimes are generally hard to report," Sewell said. "Especially if they lack a specifically violent element as opposed to veiled threats and innuendos."

Sewell said she doesn't think the campus is conducive to hate crime reporting, but said that is merely speculation.

"Though many of my friends, myself included, have been victims of racism on campus," Sewell said. "No one I know has been the victim of an explicit hate crime."

Black said he doesn't know of any student who has been a victim of a hate crime, but he did know former students who have been.

"Either for their size or for their gender expression," Black said. "There are instances when people are being targeted because of something, and nothing is expressed verbally, but they look at you with hate because you're queer or different. They don't say anything when they're beating you up or targeting you, so you never truly know."

English said MU might be an anomaly.

"It would be surprising," English said. "But it's possible."