GreggPavilion.jpg

Lewis & Clark students, staff and faculty gather for a community meeting called to address use of racist language on campus.

(Zibby Pillote, editor-in-chief / Pioneer Log)

Students at

College in Southwest Portland plan to hold a sit-in Friday morning to protest multiple instances of racist graffiti and language unfurled on campus this fall -- and what they see as the administration's wishy-washy response.

Students report that someone, probably a student, defaced white boards and posters on at least two occasions with racial epithets and phrases such as "Jim Crow for life," said Caleb Diehl, managing editor of

More than one student chanted the phrase "white power" in a dormitory hallway, according to sophomore Emile Dultra.

Last month, Lewis & Clark President Barry Glassner directed

in which he asserted the university's commitment to diversity and offered support to anyone who needs it. But the letter did not allude to any offensive acts having taken place nor say anything about consequences for anyone who uses hate speech on campus.

Tuajuanda Jordan, a dean and campus chair of diversity and inclusion, sent a campuswide email the same day, saying there had been "several hurtful incidents of bias that have some of our students, particularly students of color, feeling frightened, angry, and isolated." She said the incidents "will not be tolerated" and were being investigated. But, she wrote, the univerisity "cannot" give out any details about what happened or what discipline, if any, was meted out.

More than 100 students and faculty members, including Jordan, took part in a two-hour community meeting Wednesday evening, held to address racist acts on campus this term and the proper response to them.

the school's Black Student Union compiled a list of steps it wants taken including more action from the administration, more diversity in hiring, more open discussion of what has taken place and more transparent, less lenient consequences for those who use hate speech or show bias.

Lise Harwin, spokeswoman for the Lewis & Clark, said in an email that the administration already is working to make its anti-bias policy more explicit and will use students' input. She said Lewis & Clark also will hold additional community forums on diversity and is seeking experts to provide training to faculty, administrators and students.

Friday's sit-in is slated to start at 10 a.m. at Roberts Hall dorm, then move to Frank Manor House, where the president and other top administrators have their offices.

-- Betsy Hammond

betsyhammond@oregonian.com

@chalkup