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Students At Towson Spearheading Changes To Hate Crimes Policy

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- Loud calls for change to Towson University's hate crimes policy have led to a project allowing students to speak out.

As Gigi Barnett explains a public service announcement released this week is just the first step of a bigger plan.

Every word of a public service commercial at Towson University is designed to bring change and alleviate racial tensions on campus.

Since April, minority students protested, asking the university to make sweeping changes to its hate-bias policy.

Towson said "yes" to that demand, launching its #NotAtTU campaign this week.

"All of us are fed up with the incidents that have been going on, and we're all committed to doing better," said Rishell Chambers, student.

The public service commercial is just one step in a broad plan to get students to, first, recognize hate-bias incidents on campus, and second, encourage to report them.

Last month, some defaced a blackboard with a message against racism on it, writing "Satan Rules Towson" on top of it. Students rallied.

Back in November, minority students staged a on-the-spot protest inside interim president Timothy Chandler's office. They carried with them a list of demands to bring more diversity on campus.

Now, the university says change is coming.

"This summer, we're going to be rewriting the hate-bias procedures and process," said Ray Feldman, Towson University spokesperson.

So, what happens after a Towson student reports a hate-bias incident on campus? The university says it plans to track every one by either its police department, student government board or housing committee. It is also launching a website that explains to students what a hate crime is.

The university has also created a hate-bias work group, which includes students, faculty and staff to develop a system that allows transparent reporting.

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