Texas Tech officials across campus are reviewing policies and procedures, including possible changes to the university’s Code of Student Conduct. They’re doing so to address a racist video posted by a Texas Tech student on a third-party app used by Tech eSports, a video gaming group.
Tech President Lawrence Schovanec says the action of the student was ignorant.
“I’m not saying the person is ignorant, but I feel when people do these things it really betrays the culture we are trying to promote at Tech and that’s terribly frustrating. But, it conveys a certain image and for those who already deal with questions of, ‘Am I wanted? Am I supported?’ It’s hurtful and bothersome.”
An African American Tech student reported the video, which was posted on the app in late November, to the gaming group and then to the university. In late December, that Tech student posted numerous Tweets about the video, including one with the video. That Tweet was retweeted 4,400 times before it was disabled.
“He can’t be expelled by our existing policies for what he did. When I spoke with the dean of students I said, ‘describe to me very clearly what our Code of Student Conduct says as it relates to actions that can be taken.’ You can take actions when they relate more to specific personal antagonisms and face-to-face, or engaging in behaviors that effect the functioning of the institution, the ability for classes to meet or be held, disruptive behaviors. It’s very prescriptive as to what they must do and what you can do, and what you can’t do.”
The policies and procedures reviews include those related to student organizations as well as the behavioral expectations in the university’s Code of Student Conduct.
Effort also will be aimed at better connecting students affected by acts of bias and racism with the appropriate university resources.
There will also be enhanced training for students, faculty, staff and administration, and continued financial and staff support to boost recruiting efforts of black students and faculty. Sports clubs will have greater scrutiny and oversight.
Schovanec says he doesn’t feel contented that the school is doing all it can.
“No, I’m not satisfied. I have to do more, people I work with have to be better. When there’s periods of relative peace and quiet, you cannot let down your guard. We have to be exceedingly empathetic and understanding as we deal with these matters.”
Over the past 18 years, the number of black students enrolled at Tech has grown 60 percent. In fall of 2001, 742 out of 25,573 students enrolled at Tech were black. In fall 2018, 2,674 out of 38,209 students enrolled were black.
In that time span, the number of white students has grown by just 116. The biggest growth has come in the number of Hispanic students, with a 417 percent increase.
Schovanec cautions against people saying that Tech is a racist campus.
“Don’t use this broad brush to paint the entire institution. By that I mean the student body, the alumni, faculty, because of what one person does. It’s one person speaking, and I believe that person would admit that this was a mistake.”
Schovanec and other administrators recently met with the Black Student Association. He says he’s also spoken to students who weren’t involved in the video incident.
“They feel a broader obligation to take these up. And I told that student, ‘You’re not in this by yourself.’ But, I had the impression that at times he becomes very discouraged when he had these incidents like this.”
Schovanec says incidents such as the racist video should be faced head on. Trying to spin it isn’t helpful.
“When you have an unfortunate incident like this video, it’s important rather than to react defensively, to say, ‘Hey that’s not us, don’t you realize all we’re doing?’ Is to really take a deep look at the situation and say what can we do more? Because we can.”