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Police investigate new hate crimes at UW-Whitewater
Police are investigating more hate crimes at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – this time involving vandalism to the cars of three black students.
The university said someone slashed the tires of the cars and spray-painted “KKK” on the doors and hoods. The incidents happened between 11 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 10 a.m. on Nov. 9.
The reports of vandalism follow closely on the heels of a Nov. 7 incident in which a freshman walking on the north side of campus was approached by two white males, one of whom pushed her into a fence and held her there. He let her go after making a derogatory remark about her perceived sexual orientation.
In September, a woman was punched in the face near campus while wearing a T-shirt that said “Legalize gay.”
The State Journal reported earlier that police do not believe the two assaults are linked.
UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard J. Telfer issued a statement following the second assault saying that bullying and hate crimes would not be tolerated on campus or in the local community.
“UW-Whitewater is a place that values all people,” he said. “This incident goes against everything that we stand for as a campus.”
In addition to conducting an exhaustive investigation, UW-Whitewater police will provide an increased presence on campus, Telfer said.
The university plans meetings to discuss how to stop such incidents.