A state senator has released a report on racism across the 10 state-owned universities, including IUP.
The report, entitled “Enough”, was created after Democrat Senator Art Haywood from the Philadelphia/Montgomery County area went on a listening tour across the State System of Higher Education between April of 2022 and November of 2023. The report itself includes recollections from students who were able to describe their experiences anonymously from in and out of the classroom that left them feeling isolated or unsafe, and areas that need addressing, including ending racial harassment and speech, nurture and retain students of color, organize an incident reporting system, unveil mandatory diversity training, generate mental health resources, and hire faculty and staff of color.
Senator Haywood said that they heard many stories during their listening tour, and said that all the students want is to be able to learn and have fun in a safe campus and community.
Haywood also referenced IUP’s President Dr. Michael Driscoll’s response to a racial incident on campus last February where a former student posted a racial slur along with a video of the song “Lift Every Voice And Sing” being performed before an IUP men’s basketball game. He said that Driscoll and the administration worked fast to not only condemn the message, but to offer help.
The report is now available on Senator Haywood’s website.
