Dallas

SMU Students Meet to Discuss Diversity and Racism

Dozens of Southern Methodist University students met Wednesday night after racist fliers were posted and circulated around campus.

Topics at the "Call to Action" meeting included talk about the fliers and other concerns on campus, many of them post-election related.

"A lot of these things that are occurring on campuses have to do with the post-election and the rise of tension," said SMU student Taylor Nickens. "How people are feeling, and now expressing how they truly feel."

"You should know your enemy," said student Alaxandria Forman. "If you allow for people to sit quiet and not live their truth, you never know who you're around."

Joanne Vogel, SMU associate vice president and dean of student life, told NBC 5 that SMU is reviewing surveillance video and it looks "promising" that they'll be able to identify who is responsible for posting the racist fliers.

"I was greatly angry. All that they said is completely false, I think," said SMU senior Taylor Sourwachak.

She says she's passionate about acceptance on her campus and was saddened to learn of what she calls a setback in diversity recognition.

University President R. Gerald Turner sent out a memo commending student efforts to fight racism on campus and said in the statement that "anyone committed to living a life of denigrating others in some misguided effort to elevate themselves should find another place to live."

"I think the president is in a position now where he does not have a choice but to say something," said Dallas Police Association President Frederick Frazier.

Frazier says he's been in communication with SMU about these recent issues and is calling on administration to act swiftly.

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