University of Virginia Library

Blacks Charge Harassment
By University Community

University Officials Face Black Students' Charges Of Harassment

Those Pictured Include Security Chief Bromwell, Center, Police Chief Houchens, Right

Black students yesterday reported
further incidents of harassment by
members of the University community
despite attempts and assurances by
University officials to curb such actions.

John Thomas, a third-year student,
reviewed several incidents for The
Cavalier Daily that have occurred since
this fall.

Mr. Thomas' first complaint was
harassment by city and University police.
He revealed that white Charlottesville
policemen, earlier in the semester, had singled
out and stopped black students in the fraternity
area during a party weekend.

The police, he stated, had approached the
black students, called them derogatory names,
and asked them for their student identification
cards.

Several incidents have also occurred with
University police. The most recent example of
such an action occurred in the middle of
December when three black students were
stopped in front of the Law School and asked
for their ID's.

Following this action, the black students
met with various members of the
administration to complain about the incidents.

At that time, Wade Bromwell, chief of
University Security, stated that the incident
was an "educational problem and will be used
in the further training of the police officers."

Mr. Bromwell added that he felt that the
officer had been justified in stopping the
students.

In summarizing what has happened since
that incident, Mr. Bromwell said yesterday that
he had suggested that a black student come to
talk to the University police to discuss the
problems and the feeling of the black students.

The police have also used the past incidents,
he continued, in intradepartment discussions
for training purposes.

Ray Houchens, chief of University police,
stated that he had not seen any prejudice in any
of his men and that prejudice "would not be
tolerated" in the force.

Mr. Thomas stated that the police
"problem" was only one type of harassment
that black students have encountered. He
claimed that people on the backs of Building
and Grounds Department trucks had yelled
names at black girls walking in the University.

Mr. Thomas stated that when the license
number of the truck involved in the incident
was reported to the administration, blacks were
told that the person yelling at the girls was not
identifiable.

Problems have also arisen with white
students. Mr. Thomas charged that white men
have physically grabbed black women on the
streets and have thrown things at groups of
black students.

He explained that in one incident, black
students chased after whites who had thrown
beer bottles from balconies at black girls. He
added that the white students escaped but that
"next time they wouldn't."

In explaining solutions to the problems, Mr.
Thomas stated that the Admissions Office had
been able to get more black students to apply
to the University and that it is now up to the
University community and the administration
to see that the black students are made
welcome.

As two possible positive actions, he
suggested that the University police become
more sensitive to the feelings of blacks and that
a black administrator be put in the President's
office to help "cut red tape."

"The University can wait for a
confrontation," Mr. Thomas concluded, "and
be put on the map from a race war or it can be
wise and learn from the situations encountered
at other schools."