Auburn prof uses offensive note as lesson racism

Associated Press

October 22, 2008 10:35 am

— AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — An Auburn University professor is using a racist note as a teaching opportunity.
Chippewa Thomas is an assistant professor in the college of education. She said she found a note written last week at the bottom of a flier she had hung that read “There’s no room for hate on campus.”
Thomas, who is black, said it’s not the first time she’s experienced racism. But she said she was surprised it happened at Auburn.
University spokeswoman Deedie Dowdle said the note was immature graffiti. She said the university decided it would be impossible to track down its author.
Thomas has discussed the matter in one of her classes that deals with school psychology and counseling. She said the incident prompted the school’s multicultural center to hold a campus forum on hate speech and its effects.
———