Williams Receives Another Racial Harassment Report

Staff Reports Print Story | Email Story
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A Williams College student has reported an incident of racial harassment on a public street late Saturday night, according to a campus-wide email from school officials.
 
Director of Campus Safety Services Jeffrey Palmer and Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leticia S. E. Haynes sent the email Wednesday morning about an incident that reportedly occurred at about 1 a.m. Sunday morning on Hoxsey Street.
 
A Williams student reported that, "an individual driving a white 4-door pickup with Mass plates shouting a racial slur and threatening physical harm," the email read.
 
The email was accompanied by a photo of the vehicle alleged to be involved in the incident. The license plate is illegible in the photo.
 
"We are asking anyone with information about the vehicle [pictured] to contact Campus Safety Services at 413-597-4444 or the Williamstown Police Department at 413-458-5733," the email read. "We thank the student who contacted us about this incident and to remind everyone that hateful actions like these have no place here."
 
The email reminded anyone needing additional support to reach out to Haynes' office or the Davis Center at Williams.
 
The campus has seen an increase in such incidents since the start of the fall semester, prompting several such emails to the college community and a discussion at Town Hall by Williamstown's Racial Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
 

Tags: harassment,   Williams College,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

St. Stan's Students Spread Holiday Cheer at Williamstown Commons

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Students from St. Stanislaus Kostka School  in Adams brought the holiday spirit to Williamstown Commons on Thursday, delivering handmade Christmas cards and leading residents in a community caroling session.
 
"It honestly means the world to us because it means the world to them," said nursing home Administrator Alex Fox on Thursday morning. "This made their days. This could have even made their weeks. It could have made their Christmas, seeing the children and interacting with the community."
 
Teacher Kate Mendonca said this is the first year her class has visited the facility, noting that the initiative was driven entirely by the students.
 
"This came from the kids. They said they wanted to create something and give back," Mendonca said. "We want our students involved in the community instead of just reading from a religion book."
 
Preparation for the event began in early December, with students crafting bells to accompany their singing. The handmade cards were completed last week.
 
"It's important for them to know that it's not just about them during Christmas," Mendonca said. "It's about everyone, for sure. I hope that they know they really helped a lot of people today and hopefully it brought joy to the residents here."
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories