NAACP to meet with N.C. State chancellor over racist graffiti

Raleigh, N.C. — Members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will meet Wednesday morning with North Carolina State University Chancellor James Oblinger. The civil rights organization called for the meeting after racist graffiti was found on campus the day after the presidential election.

While some students painted pro-Barack Obama messages in the Free Expression Tunnel on the night of Nov. 4, racist graffiti, including “Shoot Obama” and other terms that bordered on threats against the president-elect, were there early Nov. 5, campus police said.

Four students have since come forward and admitted to spray-painting the racist messages. Since the students were not charged with a crime, the NAACP wants to discuss potential university action.

The racist graffiti was immediately painted over, but strong emotions remain over the incident.

"It was something very inappropriate, and I don't think it represents the campus at all,” student Awma Rinchhuan said.

The tunnel is a place where students are encouraged to speak their minds, and there is some sentiment that the incident is getting more attention than it deserves.

"It shouldn't be taken to such extreme measures, if they apologized and understand that racism shouldn't be tolerated here,” student Rachelann Braun said.

“You don't want to down play it, but at the same time, you don't want to give too much attention to it," Rinchhuan said.

"I think it is not going to be necessary, but it is good for them (the NAACP) to get involved so they can put people together and communicate and make everything better,” student Julian Washington said.

The incident prompted about 500 students to gather Thursday for a unity rally at the campus brickyard.

The names of the students have not been released.