College presidents urge Trump to condemn racist incidents

More than 100 college presidents, including 11 local leaders, sent a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump, urging him to take a stand against racist incidents occurring on campuses and elsewhere in the wake of his election. according to Inside Higher Education.

"In light of your pledge to be "President for all Americans," we urge you to condemn and work to prevent the harassment, hate and acts of violence that are being perpetrated across our nation, sometimes in your name, which is now synonymous with our nation's highest office," the letter said. "In our schools, on job sites and college campuses, on public streets and in coffee shops, members of our communities, our children, our families, our neighbors, our students and our employees are facing very real threats, and are frightened."

Among local college presidents who signed the letter are: Kim Cassidy, Bryn Mawr College; Frank G. Pogue, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (interim president); Daniel Porterfield, Franklin & Marshall College; Janet Morgan Riggs, Gettysburg College; Kimberly Benston, Haverford College; Alison Byerly, Lafayette College; Richard Green, Lincoln University; Bryon Grigsby, Moravian College; John I. Williams Jr., Muhlenberg College; Valerie Smith, Swarthmore College; Barbara K. Mistick, Wilson College.

Black freshmen at the University of Pennsylvania were sent racist messages last week after they were joined to a cellphone text-messaging app group named "N- Lynching." The FBI is investigating and has made contact with three college students in Oklahoma. Other campuses that have are looking into incidents that could be related to the election include La Salle, University of the Sciences, Lehigh and Villanova.

Here's the Inside Higher Ed article https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/18/110-college-presidents-issue-letter-trump-urging-him-speak-out-against-harassment.