Statement on Racist Behavior at WMU

The Black Faculty and Staff Council (BFSC) at Western Michigan University serves as a
contributor to the University’s mission to foster involvement, growth, and development in safe
and inclusive learning environments. BFSC was formed out of a collective response from long-
term WMU employees who share unfavorable experiences and dissatisfaction with the campus
climate and overall quality of life for African-American faculty, staff, and students.
One of the primary purposes of BFSC is to advise senior University leadership on matters
regarding race, equity, diversity and inclusion, and issues impacting Black faculty, staff,
administrators, and students. As such, we are compelled to publicly voice our disappointment
and concern regarding yet another incident of racism on WMU’s campus, this time involving an
African-American staff member. According to Case No. 1:20-cv-811 of the United States District
Court, WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN, in August 2017 a white staff member looped a rope in
the shape of a noose, moving to put the rope around the Black staff member’s neck during a
diversity and inclusion training session.
The lawsuit also states that the white staff member had a history of discriminating against
African-American students and other students of color. WMU concluded there was sufficient
evidence to support a finding for racial discrimination and that the white employee had
violated the University Non-Discrimination Policy. The white staff member was allowed to retire
with benefits from WMU in September 2017.
This racially charged incident illustrates a disturbing yet familiar form of dehumanization and
White Supremacy that has been experienced and/or felt by many Black faculty, staff and
students here at WMU. For example, a 2020 BFSC town hall meeting of 64 African American
staff (approx. 40 percent of the total number of full-time African-American faculty and staff)
shared concerns of racial bias in promotion opportunities, unfair treatment and sometimes
harassment on the job by their supervisors and colleagues. Others voiced being left out of the
information loop regarding leadership opportunities in their assigned work areas. Additionally,
every member of the BFSC leadership has acknowledged navigating through a complex system
of institutional and structural barriers during their tenure at WMU.
These continued acts of racism and bigotry at Western Michigan University are having a
negative impact on Black faculty, staff, students, retirees, alumni, donors, and most
importantly, prospective Black students and their perception of the institution. These
occurrences affect the entire Western Michigan University community as we grapple with the
recent layoffs of personnel and the devastating effects of COVID 19.
Enough is enough. WMU must look at its systems of operation – both written and unwritten
policies – as well as practices and procedures, that perpetuate, tolerate, and reward acts of
racial oppression that create a racially intimidating, hostile, and offensive environment for Black
people. The time is now.
WMU Black Faculty Staff Council