<p>Interesting that these incidents have been used as instructive at Oberlin but similar, repeated incidents at Dartmouth as recent as MLK day this year and Williams College were virtually “swept under the rug.” Oberlin has had the courage to stand up to these insults.</p>
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<p>I spoke with my daughter last night, and she reports that there is still a visible increased security presence on campus - campus police standing sentry in places where they previously did not stand. She said this makes her somewhat uneasy.</p>
<p>The college posted on 3/7/13 on the official website: “the FBI is initiating an investigation of the bias incidents that have occurred on the campus. The college will be cooperating closely with the FBI in its investigation.” Despite sending the parents the following message on 3/9/13: “Oberlin College urges parents to regularly visit our parents webpage, where we will continue to post updates about the investigation and initiatives related to it.”, no official safety updates have been posted on the parent website since, nor on any other official portion of their website, nor any other safety and security updates, since the security update of 3/7/13.</p>
<p>So, still extra security presence on campus, and no updated information given by the College for the last week. The lack of information coming from the Administration is perplexing and vexing.</p>
<p>Still the best source of information on the incidents to date is the students themselves - here is the updated Oberlin Review article covering the hate crimes:</p>
<p>[Vandalism</a>, Harassment Inspire Systemic Reform](<a href=“http://oberlinreview.org/article/campus-high-alert-student-organizers-targeted/]Vandalism”>http://oberlinreview.org/article/campus-high-alert-student-organizers-targeted/)</p>
<p>Also, Oberlin Review staff has attempted to shed light on the legal implications of the recent events by interviewing a national expert:</p>
<p>[Q&A</a> with Jeaninne Bell: Hate Crime Expert](<a href=“http://oberlinreview.org/article/q-jeaninne-bell-hate-crime-exerpt/]Q&A”>http://oberlinreview.org/article/q-jeaninne-bell-hate-crime-exerpt/)</p>
<p>There is much good happening on the Oberlin campus, to be sure. The students rallying, having much open dialog and critical discourse, groups meeting to suggest and implement changes, celebrations of diversity are all there. Studying and music and other college activities are still all going on as usual. </p>
<p>And yet, I agree with threetreasurs:</p>
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<p>The FBI is still there (?) and the Administration is not saying the investigation’s over (?). That’s not usual for an elite liberal arts college - I think it’s something more than merely reassuring parents that security is taken seriously. I think it’s something bigger than that.</p>
<p>As an Oberlin faculty member, my view is exactly the opposite of Ms. Ladybug’s. The reason for the increased security presence is to reassure students, not to alarm them. Similarly, the reason for the FBI involvement is to aid in the investigation of the acts that took place in February, not because there is any indication that those acts are ongoing. The administration is not issuing additional statements because there is nothing additional to report–law enforcement have asked them not to comment on the continuing investigation. Security updates are issued only when incidents occur, and (as far as I know) no unusual incidents have occurred in the past two weeks. I’m not sure what’s “perplexing and vexing” about that.</p>