CWU Students and Staff Take a Stand Against Racism

"There have been multiple times where I'm with my friends, just in the outskirts of campus and we've been called the N-word, B-word, and telling me to go back to where I came from,” said Autumn Robinson, a senior at CWU.

Comments like these, handouts of KKK flyers, and even one local resident flying a KKK flag in his front yard is what started making students and faculty at CWU concerned.

Wanting to take an active stance against the acts a group of students and staff met last Friday to discuss how they could educate one another on racism, grow in their understanding of those different than themselves, and provide a support system for each other.

"We all should be able to feel like we can walk around campus, go into a class, and not have to worry about somebody saying something or seeing the KKK propaganda or anything like that,” said Robinson.

During the meeting the group discussed making yard signs and flyers to promote zero tolerance for racism and hate crimes.

"I’ve been in this community for 25 years and this is the first time I’ve seen such an over act of promoting white supremacy and promoting hate against people in this community," said Dr. Keith Champagne, Associate Dean for Student Development at CWU.

Still, Dr. Champagne says this is from a few people but in no way reflects what Ellensburg or CWU is like.

He says while the school must respect the rights of the first amendment, students who feel unsafe should report issues to the student success office and campus police so the issues can be monitored.

Dr. Champagne says the community has rejected the KKK in the past.

"So here we are with a new generation in the second coming of the Ku Klux Klan trying to find a foothold in Ellensburg. So I would hope that the community would rise up again and say, “not in our community, not now, not ever,”” said Dr. Champagne.

Students and faculty at the CWU campus have already begun to unite via social media with their hashtag- #notinourkitco. Hoping to send a firm message of zero tolerance for racism, not just for Ellensburg, but for all of Kittitas County.

Revision: Hashtag has been changed to #notinourkittco.

See more of this story at KIMA-TV news.