WSU president: Hate, racism ‘has no place at Wright State’

Susan Edwards, eighth president of Wright State University. THOMAS GNAU/STAFF

Susan Edwards, eighth president of Wright State University. THOMAS GNAU/STAFF

Wright State University President Sue Edwards says she wasn’t reacting to any one specific incident in a strongly worded tweet on Sunday about hatred and racism, but was making a clear statement in response to numerous things she had seen and heard at WSU and in the larger community.

A reporter contacted Edwards Sunday to ask about the context of her statement. She said there have been racial slurs painted on the often-controversial free speech rock on campus, and also she has seen and heard about things from faculty, staff and students that she says are unacceptable. She declined to provide details.

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“I’m responding to a number of things I’ve seen over the weekend, and I’ve had enough, and I think we as a society can do better,” she said. “Our campus is for everybody. It should be an inclusive community. That, in my mind, is our No. 1 mission.”

Edwards said the university recently created a working group including the faculty senate to review its policies and practices, and is conducting an audit of its inclusiveness policies.

“We will not tolerate hate and racism as part of our Wright State community and we will be ensuring that any actions that result from both hatred and race will be reported and actionable moving forward.”

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