The protests happened after the university announced that the two white assailants were arrested and facing a misdemeanor count of assault.
What We Know:
- According to the protestors, the students Matthew Frazier and Matthew Rawlings, were directed to a social justice diversion training program instead of facing jail time.
- On Thursday, the University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins released a statement advising that he was disappointed by the incident. “We need to come together and let people know, without qualification, that intolerance and discrimination have no home here. Unless we have a safe environment, free from violence, discrimination, and hate, students will not be free to learn and pursue their dreams.”
- The university police department released a police report saying that officers were called to Arbol de la Vida residence hall Tuesday night because people were reportedly fighting.
- The report also states that once the officers arrived, the African American student told them that two white men called him the n-word and punched him in the head. The victim had suffered minor scrapes on his knuckles, right elbow, and knee.
- After talking to witnesses, the officers were able to identify the men, who were also students, who allegedly attacked the black student. The officers advised that the men were under the influence.
- According to the report, one of the men was trying to break up the fight. The men were too intoxicated to recall the events of that night. The African American student didn’t want to press charges.
This is the second high-profile case between students and campus police. In April, the school caused controversy when three students involved in an on-campus protest were charged with a misdemeanor. In the video released to the public, the students can be seen taunting two agents who were asked to give a presentation on a criminal justice club on campus. The charges were later dropped.
