Chapel Hill, N.C. – A group of Taiwanese graduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are pressing the university to take decisive steps after being shown surveillance footage of an alleged racial harassment incident.
In August, the students say a group of white men approached them on campus and mimicked monkeys, an act they described as deeply offensive and racially motivated. Earlier today, the University Compliance Office (UCO) provided the students with the security video for the first time. While the faces of the men are clearly visible, the students argue that the university has not done enough to use the footage to identify and hold the individuals accountable.
Students call for accountability
“We feel like they can do more,” said UNC doctoral candidate Shao‑Jung Louie Lu. “They didn’t try to actively search in the options for solutions here.” Lu added that the university’s response seemed to place the burden of identification on the victims rather than on the institution.
Another doctoral student, Yu‑Hsiu Lien, expressed concern that the current investigative process could leave the harassment unaddressed. “Usually this kind of racial harassment happens with those who you don’t know – who you’ve never met,” Lien said. “If this is the common procedure of the university’s policy on investigating racial harassment, then probably we will never get accountability.”
University’s stated position
When contacted for comment, a UCO spokesperson said the impacted students were offered an opportunity to view the footage to determine if any of them could identify the individuals. The spokesperson added that, after reviewing the video and speaking with the students, UCO is not aware of any statements or threats being made during the interaction.
Students contend that the university’s own security cameras, which are meant to protect the campus community, are being underutilized. “They have the video … but it’s like a double standard to choose if they want to pursue the perpetrators or not,” Lu said. “They say that they would use these security cameras to protect students – protect our community. But it seems like they’re not actually 100% sticking to what they say.”
Broader context of campus safety
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about racial harassment on college campuses nationwide. While many universities have policies to investigate such complaints, students often report frustration when procedural steps appear to shift responsibility onto victims.
At UNC, the UCO is the office tasked with handling compliance and harassment matters. Its role includes reviewing evidence, interviewing parties, and recommending actions. However, the students’ experience suggests a need for clearer communication and more proactive measures to ensure that perpetrators are identified and appropriate consequences are applied.
What comes next?
Students are urging the university to take the following actions:
- Conduct a thorough review of the video to identify the individuals involved.
- Provide regular updates to the affected students about investigative progress.
- Implement stronger deterrents and educational programs to prevent future incidents of racial harassment.
University officials have not indicated whether additional steps will be taken beyond the initial review. The students plan to continue advocating for a transparent process and for policies that more effectively safeguard the campus community.
As the dialogue unfolds, the UNC community watches closely to see whether the university will align its stated commitment to safety with concrete actions that hold harassers accountable.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
