SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Texas State University chapter of the NAACP is asking the university to take several actions after it says a student discovered racial vandalism on his car when it was parked inside a campus garage.
The Texas State NAACP said on Friday, Sept. 27, a Black freshman student found his car vandalized with a racial slur. The car was parked inside the Woods Street Parking Garage, located next to the Jones Dining Complex and across the street from San Jacinto Hall and The Tower residence hall.
“We are deeply disturbed by this egregious act of racism, which not only targets an individual but also undermines the values we uphold as a community,” NAACP Chapter President Jordan Williams wrote. “As a institution serving majority people of color, it is disheartening to witness actions that contradict our university’s mission to embrace diversity and foster an environment of civility, compassion, and respect.”
Williams noted that over 57% of the Texas State student population identifies as people of color.
In response to the reported vandalism, the chapter is asking the university to take four actions. It requests that:
- President Kelly Damphousse issue a statement publicly condemning the act of hate, released through official communication channels
- The university commit to transparency throughout the investigation process into this act, including sharing regular updates with the community
- The university develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy to “enhance diversity, foster inclusion, and ensure that every student feels safe and valued on campus,” using this incident as a catalyst
- The university thoroughly review current campus security measures to prevent future hate crime incidents
“In the current social and political climate, especially here in Texas, Texas State University has a profound responsibility to ensure that all students are supported and protected,” Williams wrote. “We stand united in our commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful campus environment and call upon our entire community to join us in this vital effort.”
KVUE has reached out to Texas State for a statement regarding the chapter’s requests. This story will be updated when we receive a response.