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I agree with you. If all the incidents were directed at one group, I would be more inclined to believe it was a true hate crime, but being directed at different groups makes me wonder if someone just wants to deflect attention from something else by involving as many people as possible.</p>
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<p>Probably falls under violating rules contrary to the interests of preserving and furthering a harmonious campus community. Behaviors including parading around wearing symbols/clothing/uniforms of past/present violent domestic terrorist groups would probably fall under that.</p>
<p>But why is more attention being placed to the sighting of someone with robes and dunce cap (not illegal, may be in violation of school rules if a student, but most likely to subject the wearer to ridicule by others) compared to the robbery and assault mentioned earlier (felonies which have actual victims, and which a perpetrator who is convicted can go to prison for)?</p>
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When I was in college, we could be put on probation or fired from the college for “conduct unbecoming.” Is there any similar provision at Oberlin?</p>
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<p>Probably because the KKK has had a long history of carrying out domestic violent terror campaigns against anyone they considered beneath them for racist/religious reasons. African-Americans, Catholics, Jews, etc not only in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, but also on and off into the late 20th century. Some of their off-shoot groups/sympathetic groups continue their attacks into the last few years. </p>
<p>Many folks still have a grandparent or even a parent with vivid memories of being attacked or knowing a close family member, friend, neighbor, etc who was attacked. </p>
<p>Moreover, when that sighting occurred, it came after several weeks of students already being heavily on edge because of other series of incidents preceding that one…including a few physical assaults. </p>
<p>Personally, while my family and I wouldn’t feel as threatened by someone wearing a klan robe, I can relate and sympathize with their feelings of terror at the sight. </p>
<p>It’s not too far removed from how my older relatives would react if we saw someone parading around in an Imperial Japanese Military uniform or waving Japanese military flags, especially the Japanese Army flag in their neighborhood.</p>
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<p>There are provisions that will allow for suspensions or even expulsion for behavior/actions which violate community respect rules…especially those related to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.</p>
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<p>What if that person was Sasha Baron Cohen?</p>
<p>50% this is a hoax
49.999 is college *******s looking for attention/freak people out</p>
<p>.001% there is any Klan involvement</p>
<p>I agree, this sounds like a faked incident. Someone reported seeing someone in a KKK robe? If you think about it…this means some kid had to buy fabric and make this robe as you could not even get this as a costume shop. Yet, 1 person saw someone in it. Wouldn’t a lot of people have seen the person in the KKK robe? And anyone, of any race, could have written the graffiti. I think someone just wants some time off from school, and/or to see a lot of dramatics happen.</p>
<p>As the white mother of a Chinese kid who has lived in majority African-American neighborhoods for many years and raised my child here, I find it really offensive for educated parents of high school and college age kids to have a first response that any such incident was likely faked to miss a day of school.</p>
<p>Do you trust Forrest Whittaker?
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/opinion/coates-the-good-racist-people.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/opinion/coates-the-good-racist-people.html</a></p>
<p>Last month the actor Forest Whitaker was stopped in a Manhattan delicatessen by an employee. Whitaker is one of the pre-eminent actors of his generation, with a diverse and celebrated catalog ranging from The Great Debaters to The Crying Game to Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. By now it is likely that he has adjusted to random strangers who cant get his turn as Idi Amin out of their heads. But the man who approached the Oscar winner at the deli last month was in no mood for autographs. The employee stopped Whitaker, accused him of shoplifting and then promptly frisked him.</p>
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<p>lmkh70,</p>
<p>As someone who is an alum of this college, keep in touch with those living and working in the town/campus, and regularly come in contact with recent graduates, most Oberlin students aren’t frivolous slackers as you’re implying above.</p>
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<p>It does look like the edgy reaction actually increases what little power such remnant groups today have. Terrorism is all about causing fear in order to cause stronger opponents to overreact and harm themselves, even if the terrorist organization is too weak to be effective any other way.</p>
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<p>Have any suspects in the assaults, robberies, or graffiti vandalism been arrested?</p>
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<p>However, if the perpetrators are not students, then the school rules that apply to students do not apply. But the assault, robbery, and graffiti vandalism are crimes that a non-student perpetrator can be arrested, tried, and (if found guilty) punished for.</p>
<p>Can anyone confirm how the “town-gown” relations are at Oberlin? Some colleges located in rural towns have security problems and incidents related to local young folk.</p>
<p>Other recent hoaxes</p>
<p>[Student</a> Admits Report of Police Misconduct Was Fake - News - Campus Safety Magazine](<a href=“http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Channel/University-Security/News/2011/05/11/Law-Student-Admits-Report-of-Police-Misconduct-Was-Fake.aspx]Student”>http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Channel/University-Security/News/2011/05/11/Law-Student-Admits-Report-of-Police-Misconduct-Was-Fake.aspx)</p>
<p>[Psych</a> student allegedly admits gunman hoax was to make him look like ‘a good guy’- Kingsport Times-News](<a href=“http://www.timesnews.net/article/9056537/psych-student-allegedly-admits-gunman-hoax-was-to-make-him-look-like-a-good-guy]Psych”>http://www.timesnews.net/article/9056537/psych-student-allegedly-admits-gunman-hoax-was-to-make-him-look-like-a-good-guy)</p>
<p><a href=“Black college student admits to hanging nooses and making racial threats - YouTube”>Black college student admits to hanging nooses and making racial threats - YouTube;
<p><a href=“Student admits fake kidnapping”>Student admits fake kidnapping;
<p>I think these were some students making a poorly thoughtout political statement against either overly PC campus life or just the right to be outrageous in speech.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/education/unm-student-admits-to-hoax[/url]”>http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/education/unm-student-admits-to-hoax</a></p>
<p>And this</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/03/05/oberlin_college_kkk_sighting_police_suggest_that_eyewitness_may_have_mistaken.html[/url]”>http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/03/05/oberlin_college_kkk_sighting_police_suggest_that_eyewitness_may_have_mistaken.html</a></p>
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<p>For this reason, I am inclined to doubt that the person who reported seeing somebody in Klan or Klan-like robes really did see a person wearing Klan regalia. It seems possible that, being on edge, she interpreted something else in a way that conformed to worries she already had as a result of all the turmoil on campus. It seems more possible to me that she saw somebody–either somebody who had malicious intent, or some jackass who thought it would be a hilarious prank to play in the middle of such widespread alarm–who has no connection to the Klan, but wanted to make people think he had.</p>
<p>If this person was intentionally walking around dressed this way, no matter what his intentions were, I wouldn’t lose much sleep over it if people roughed him up and hurled epithets at him. That would be wrong, of course, and I wouldn’t actually condone it, but it wouldn’t rise to the top of the List of Things That Sikorsky Is Outraged About.</p>
<p>I agree, quilah, as the parent of a prospective student, I’m glad the administration listened to the students. I don’t think this is a “prank” to get a day off. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out there wasn’t anyone in a KKK robe, but there were other incidents, and I think the administration did a good job. They should take these things seriously.</p>
<p>It’s funny that those who emphasize the hoax aspect completely ignored my attempts to bring more information which makes the canceled classes much more sensible than the extremely dismissive “Oh, they’re so fearful of a hoaxy sighting” or “They’re trying to get a day off”. </p>
<p>I’m getting the impression they’re more interested in confirming their own personal agendas and prejudices rather trying to understand the entire situation in context.</p>
<p>Cobrat, people don’t always have to agree. It is great that you presented relevant information, but not everyone will reach the same conclusion. I don’t think this was reason enough to cancel all classes. You do. It really is ok for different people to hold different opinions.</p>
<p>Zoosermom,</p>
<p>Disagreeing about whether classes should be shut down isn’t what’s vexing me. </p>
<p>Personally, I could have gone either way…but feel if the students felt the need for a canceled day of classes because of this series of threatening events setting the campus…especially the targeted students on edge, that’s their call that I respect as a former student and current alum of the college. </p>
<p>It’s the continued focus on the last incident while ignoring the previous ones and the cavalier disdainful assumptions that students are doing it for frivolous reasons like “getting a day off”.</p>
<p>Re: Town/Gown relations, there has been some friction between some town residents and the college lately over a so-called “trespass list.” Here’s a report from back in mid-February. </p>
<p>[Students</a> protest Oberlin College’s ‘no trespass’ list](<a href=“http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_lorain/students-protest-oberlin-colleges-no-trespass-list]Students”>http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_lorain/students-protest-oberlin-colleges-no-trespass-list)</p>
<p>Is it possible that there is a link between the more recent incidents and past trespass incidents? Remote, perhaps, but I’m sure it’s being looked at.</p>
<p>Not everyone ignored the various incidents. Go back and re read. Several of us “stood corrected.” I will say, however, that I still don’t think the ultimate answer will be that these are hate crimes. But I am deeply saddened for the people who have been frightened and upset.</p>
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<p>But assault and robbery are serious enough crimes (typically felonies) that the local police should be taking them seriously, regardless of motivation.</p>