Editor’s note: This article includes mentions of racist messages sent to Black students.
Several Black students at Duke have been targeted by racist text messages in the days following Donald Trump’s election as the next U.S. president as part of a nationwide “text spam campaign.”
The messages have included hateful language, most notably saying that the recipients were “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.”
Student Affairs notified the Duke community about the messages in an email to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students Thursday afternoon.
“This racist effort is abhorrent and presumably designed to stoke fear and alienation among members of our Black and African American community,” wrote Mary Pat McMahon, vice president and vice provost of student affairs, and Shruti Desai, associate vice president of student affairs for student engagement. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an environment where students of all identities are safe, respected and embraced.
According to the email, some Duke students receiving the messages have been targeted by name, while others received the texts anonymously. McMahon and Desai wrote that Student Affairs is working with the Office of Information Technology, Office for Institutional Equity and Duke University Police Department “to get more information” and “will share updates” as they become available.
Students who receive such messages can report the incident to the University by filling out a DukeReach Report Form.
Student Affairs representatives shared with The Chronicle that University administration was first notified Thursday morning after students reported the incident to the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture.
Black Americans across the country have received such messages over the past few days, and students seem to be targeted in particular. In addition to North Carolina, reports have also come out in New York, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, California, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Alabama.
Some of the texts have been signed by “a Trump supporter,” while others are entirely anonymous.
“We trust that our Duke community will continue to rise above hatred, support one another and build a campus grounded in mutual care and respect,” wrote McMahon and Desai. “That is the Duke way.”
Students seeking support can reach out to the MLWC or other identity and cultural centers on campus, DukeReach, Counseling and Psychological Services or DuWell. The University also operates a confidential mental health crisis line, which can be reached by calling 919-660-1000 and selecting option 2, and immediate emergencies on campus can be reported to Duke Police at 919-684-2444.
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Zoe Kolenovsky is a Trinity junior and news editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.