While government officials continue to blame Islamic extremists for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, accounts of backlash incidents against Arab Americans and Muslims have risen throughout the country.
At the University, officials say they are concerned that the school’s large international student population — between 1,300 and 1,400 students — may targets of discrimination.
“I am very concerned about backlash,” said Mark Tracy, assistant dean of diversity programs. “The lack of knowledge of who perpetrated the attacks may cause some people unnecessary harassment or discomfort.”
Tracy acknowledged that at least one “incident of a hate crime” has been reported at the University since the attacks.
The complaint was made to the Bias Response Team, a campus organization formed in 1999 to track information regarding acts of intolerance and respond to those incidents.
Tracy, who is the coordinator of BRT, also acknowledged that he has heard “numerous” rumors of other complaints.
Tracy pointed out that all incidents reported to BRT are confidential, and individuals can file informational or action complaints through the team’s Web site. To file a complaint, individuals provide information regarding the incident. For action complaints, BRT will connect those individuals to resources that may facilitate a resolution.
In related incidents, the Eugene Police Department confirmed two backlash incidents at the University, according to EPD spokeswoman Pam Alejandre. As reported in Monday’s Emerald, one incident involved graffiti on a map in Oregon Hall, and the second involved verbal abuse to an international student near campus.
Department of Public Safety Director Tom Fitzpatrick described the days immediately following the attacks as “quiet,” and said that “in the community at large, people have been reserved.”
“There have been no real upturns in problems, yet,” he added.
Fitzpatrick said the terrorist attacks will not force DPS to make any real changes to security policy or procedures.
“We are always focused on safety — this (issue) does not present a unique set of concerns,” he said.
During his two-year tenure at the University, Fitzpatrick said his 14 patrol officers’ greatest concerns were theft, alcohol and drug use, and “occasionally a violent incident.”
That may change for at least the short term, he said, as DPS will become more aware of “increased bomb threats, which typically come out of these things.”
Fitzpatrick said at this time of year, it is normal for DPS to meet with various campus groups, including the Office of International Education and Exchange, which is the department most involved with international students on campus. These meetings allow DPS to highlight specific outreach programs, such as the security substation in the Hamilton residence hall complex, which allows DPS officers to conduct nightly walk-throughs of residence halls with the housing staff. The safety sessions allow DPS officers to familiarize students with various security issues.
Calm and caution has also descended upon the Office of International Education and Exchange.
“We are doing whatever we can to make people safe and secure,” said Ginny Stark, OIEE’s associate director.
The only major changes in international programs, Stark reported, were delays involving students attempting to travel to the University in the week following the attack.
John Liebhardt is the higher education editor for the Oregon Daily Emerald. He can be reached at [email protected].