UNT president apologizes, speaks to students at sit-in following lawyer’s use of n-word
University of North Texas students silently protested at a UNT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday afternoon in the wake of a former staff member saying the n-word last week during a campus event.
Hundreds of students, most wearing black and some with green tape over their mouths, attended the sit-in. Students held up signs saying, “Diversity without inclusion means nothing!” and #NotMyUNT.”
The staff member, UNT System Assistant General Counsel Caitlin Sewell, submitted her resignation Friday morning, hours after the “When Hate Comes to Campus” panel discussion.
The UNT Student Government Association shared a list of demands that same day to make the school more inclusive, including implementing racial awareness curriculum and hiring more people of color. The group coordinated the sit-in with the UNT Black Student Union and UNT’s chapter of the NAACP at the Denton college.
Sewell was speaking about the First Amendment on Nov. 7 when — apparently trying to make a point about how the amendment can protect offensive language — she said the n-word.
In a recording later posted on Twitter, she is heard saying, “Um, you know, ‘You’re just a dumb (expletive) and I hate you.’ That alone, that’s protected speech.”
Students on social media began calling for her resignation when Yolian Ogbu, the president of the UNT Student Government Association, tweeted the audio.
On Nov. 8, UNT System Chancellor Lesa Roe and UNT President Neal Smatresk shared a message saying Sewell had resigned and the school would foster a dialogue on diversity at UNT “in the coming days and weeks.”
‘What are you actually going to do?’
Students sat in on Thursday’s meeting from 1 to 2 p.m. while the board discussed various financial plans.
At 2 p.m. when the meeting adjourned, many stood outside the conference room and asked Smatresk what the university planned to do to ensure black students feel safe and comfortable on campus.
Senior Uduak Nkanga said she was afraid this was merely “a moment,” and it would be “swept under the rug.”
“What are you actually going to do?” she asked the president. “It’s like you’re playing both sides,”
“I don’t think I’m playing both sides,” he replied. “What I’m trying to do is I’m trying to make people actually talk about challenges and come up with solutions.”
Smatresk said he and the board are examining a series of action items that are “either directly or indirectly targeted at improving equity.” For example, they are exploring why African-American students graduate at a lower rate than white students and what they can do about it.
Smatresk also sent out a letter to students and vice presidents at all UNT colleges asking for ideas on how to improve diversity and climate on campus.
“We need to take this opportunity to reflect, do better and engage in the conversations with each other that are crucial about what is going wrong and what we can do better,” he said.
Tricia Lee, a sophomore from Lewisville, said when Sewell said the n-word, she stood up and asked her why she did so. However, none of the faculty members on the panel stood up with her, she said.
“We feel like students are always standing up for our rights and the faculty are not behind us,” she said to Smatresk.
In response, Smatresk emphasized Sewell was not his employee — she was a UNT system employee — and he did not know she was coming to the flagship Denton campus.
“People have a right to free speech. They don’t have a right to blow up my institution,” he said.
Smatresk also condemned the use of the n-word as a racial slur and said people who use it do not understand the impact it can have.
“It was hurtful in the extreme,” he said. “So I am sorry it happens. I wish I could cure the whole world. I can work on getting people to understand better in our corner of it.”
Nkanga said she knows the president has “the other side in his ear that he has to answer to,” and Lee said she understands where he is coming from.
“I am interested to see what he does in the future to see if these actions actually get addressed,” Lee said. “Words are one thing. Actions are another.”
The demands
On Friday morning, SGA President Ogbu and leaders within the Black Student Union will speak before the Board of Regents and outline their plan for improving the black student experience.
“We believe these demands, when enacted, will help to achieve a truly welcoming climate at UNT where diversity is embraced and supported; and all students can succeed, be valued, and work as a community,” the SGA said in a press release.
The SGA’s list of demands includes five points:
- The UNT System needs to create comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum and make it mandatory for all faculty, staff and administration. The curriculum needs to be overseen by a board of students, staff and faculty of color.
- UNT needs to implement a cultural competency course mandatory for all freshmen.
- UNT needs to draft an outline to address diversity and inclusion practices in the strategic plan.
- By the 2021-2022 school year, UNT needs to increase the percentage of faculty and staff who are black, brown or another marginalized identity to match the demographics of the student body.
- UNT needs to set aside financial resources for the expansion of the multicultural center and the Division of Equity and Diversity.
While talking to students Thursday, Smatresk directly addressed the demand about mandatory diversity training for faculty. He said he does not favor the idea because he does not think everyone would take it seriously.
“I think if you have the right heart, it’s really, really good. If someone says you have to take it, it might not be as effective having a real conversation with people,” he said.
But, he said, leadership is listening to students and wants to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable on campus.
Nkanga said she was not convinced and does not think the demands will be met.
“I think President Neal is a puppet, and I think he is fake,” she said. “Because we’ve been speaking to him about this for the longest time. He sees the camera, he sees everyone else, he smiles for the pictures, he passed out the popcorn, he sees it as a joke. It’s going to be swept under the rug.”
Still, she said it’s important for students to continue to apply pressure to the university. Specifically, she hopes to see more funding aimed at equality on campus and diverse representation among faculty.
“(Smatresk) keeps saying we need to engage in conversation,” she said. “But we’ve been talking for how long, bro? How long? The conversation means nothing if there’s no action behind it.”
Racial tensions have been exposed at many colleges across the country, and UNT isn’t immune to this issue, the SGA said in the release. The future of UNT, according to the release, depends on actions taken by the Board of Regents and all UNT leadership.
The SGA said it wants to send the message that “students are watching.”
This story was originally published November 14, 2019 at 10:58 AM.
