UNC Students to Speak Out About Guilford College Racial Fight

Some students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are speaking out against what they call a hate crime.

According to court documents, three Palestinian students, including one visiting from North Carolina State University, told police that they were attacked on Jan. 19 by members of the Guilford College football team. The students said they were called racial slurs and "terrorists."

Six football players are now charged with assault. Five of those players also face ethnic intimidation charges.

A vigil is planned on the UNC campus Friday. Students are expected to circulate a petition asking the adminstration at Guilford College to conduct a full and thorough investigation and acknowledge the incident as a hate crime.

Even though the incident happened at another college, some UNC students said the incident affects everyone.

"We cannot stand for tolerance only on our campus, but we have to stand for tolerance everywhere on all college campuses," said UNC freshman Haley Koch.

Police announced Thursday that they decided not to pursue their own charges in the incident. Prosecutors said they would likely wait for the college to complete the investigation before deciding how to proceed.

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Yes, Carolina students were VERY outraged at the event last year in the pit when innocent students were injured by the SUV driver. Yes, students spoke up about it, demanding the categorization of the event as a "terrorist act" when it had not been, and demanding how someone like this could fall through the cracks of the community. Yes, students created many venues on campus for discussion and debate. The campus acted even quicklier to ensure proper counseling for those in need.

I'm always so disheartened to hear/read the way people view the youth of today, especially the nasty comments about those youths who care enough to try and make a difference in their community. Good for them for demanding accountability. Good for them for being politically active.

ssodor
February 2, 2007 2:36 p.m.

I'm a German American so if you call me a German Natizi, is this considered "a hate crime" in the US. Your American laws always draw the line and divide the races here. Oh...I didn't hear about any of the UNC students "speaking out" when the middle eastern ran over all them American students last year on their campus. Was he charged with a "hate crime"? What gives UNC? Yall care nothing about waht happens to your own people but cry when something happens to a race that would like nothing more than to see the US burn. There should be a caution label when coming to the US that reads "this country will self-destruct"!

hollywood
February 2, 2007 12:52 p.m.

Does anyone know what provoked the attack? Yes, it does matter.

gvmtcheese
February 2, 2007 11:52 a.m.

Why dosen't this bunch of snotty-nose kids request a thorough investigation into the reasons that may cause that kind of behavior in young adults such as the music they listen to, the movies they watch, the video games they play, the social venues they attend, the devil-may-care attitudes they possess, the culture of drinking and promiscuity they subscribe to and on and on.

yruatwit
February 2, 2007 11:43 a.m.

So whatever happened-- good or bad -- how u going to prove who started what? Each group will point to the other group and say they started it-- Sounds like a group of small kids in school yard. Just let it go guys-- move on