Olivia Schlinkman
A comprehensive report on racial discrimination throughout the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) was announced at a conference at WCU on Jan. 30, detailing severe incidents of discrimination and racism against students of color.
The findings were the result of an 18-month-long listening tour to the 14 universities comprising PASSHE, titled “ENOUGH: Listening Tour to End Racism on PASSHE Campuses.” Organized by state senator Art Haywood (D-4) and Chad Lassiter, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, they visited each campus during the 2022 and 2023 academic years to listen to testimonies and engage in focus group discussions with students of color about their experiences with racism on campus.
The efforts accumulated over 170 comments reported by over 100 students and alumni across PASSHE, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The reported incidents included racist speech, stereotyping, inequitable educational opportunities and inadequate faculty representation.