University of Vermont police cited student Wesley Richter on Thursday for disorderly conduct after he was allegedly overheard on campus using “explicitly racist and threatening language directed toward African Americans,” the university said in a statement.
News of the citation came three days after a university administrator emailed the UVM community about the incident. Someone reportedly overheard Richter, 20, making the comments on a phone call. He also allegedly made disparaging remarks about UVM’s diversity initiatives.
“Such detestable remarks and threats directed to any group or individual are antithetical to our values and commitment to work toward racial equality and greater inclusion,” wrote Annie Stevens, a vice provost for student affairs.
Student groups last week marched to UVM president Tom Sullivan’s office in the Waterman building and pressed the administration to address diversity issues. Sullivan responded to the demands and met with some of the students.
One of the student organizers, Angelica Crespo, described Richter’s alleged conduct as a “lash out” against those demands. “This is racism on campus,” said the senior, who is also the cofounder of the Womyn of Color Coalition.
UVM police said it “conducted a thorough investigation and threat assessment” and “found no information of an imminent threat to public safety.”
“If there had been an imminent threat of harm to our community or to individuals, including any indications of weapons involved, additional steps and safeguards would have been initiated,” UVM Police Chief Lianne Tuomey said in a statement.
Crespo said that her peers have been reminding one another to remain vigilant and to walk in pairs. There are also plans to organize an active shooter training in conjunction with the Mosaic Center for Students of Color, she added.
She noted that there has been an increased security presence at the MCSC space on campus. Police will also staff Saturday’s Soul Food Social, an annual event organized by the Black Student Union, she said.
The student groups are expected to counter Sullivan’s response to their demands. “We don’t feel satisfied,” Crespo said.
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Did you reach out to Wesley Richter for comment?
The kid made some disparaging remarks, racially based, on a cell phone and someone overheard it? Something seems to be missing here. I’m not sure that alone is enough to warrant punishment.
What a bunch of non-sense.
With all the race-based violence happening around the country, I really feel for students of color at UVM. To know another student has threatened to hurt you – when you don’t even know him – has to be unsettling.
Unfortunately it sounds like some people are looking for trouble. Want to be scared? Go somewhere you should be scared. Then your preparations for something that hasn’t happened might not be creating such a self-fulfilling prophecy, which affects the people around you, you know. Talk about divisiveness. When you create that division, that boogeyman, someone might come along and live down to your expections. And for that matter, if you want to protest, don’t go after the people who are on your side. Go to Mississippi or North Dakota and try to effect real change on people who don’t agree with you… Sorry if it sounds like I’m talking to a fifth grader, but I actually feel like I am.
“Someone reportedly heard” sounds kind of vague. An accusation of such criminal and moral violations needs to be seriously corroborated; only then should ANY action be taken.
Allegedly said? What is this city coming to? Hearsay I’d say.
So basically the city of Burlington is wasting my tax dollars on what amounts to a recruiting drive for the alt right. Fantastic.
Just 20 years old, eh? The bartenders at Burlington Country Club serve him almost every day. Not sure what he said or whether it warranted any legal action, but DLC ought to go take a look into it.
Womyn of color? This is a college student?
This student has committed no crime. There is nothing but an accusation against him. Since when do universities have private jurisdiction? This reeks of Gestapo tactics and will not hold up in court. I hope Richter sues this joke of a school and its sniveling leadership.
This is a joke right?? A hearsay?? Since when was it against the law to talk on a cell phone on the campus? Seems to me someone(s) is stirring up some trouble. Not getting enough attention? Afraid to walk alone, walk in pairs. Is there a white student union? Do they have an annual event organized by the White Student Union? It’s amazing that these snowflakes students are afraid of words.
Ok now remember don’t talk on your cell at UVM, someone will hear you and they will have to run to their safe place and curl up in a ball and suck on a pacifier …
So scary that this can happen in our state. The college needs to do a better job monitoring students email and phone conversations to prevent these type of threats and any type of alt-right organizing on campus. It goes without saying that Richter should be expelled. The college needs to get serious about protecting marginalized students from white male supremacy.
“The college needs to do a better job monitoring students email and phone conversations to prevent these type of threats and any type of alt-right organizing on campus. It goes without saying that Richter should be expelled. The college needs to get serious about protecting marginalized students from white male supremacy..”
The college needs to do a better job of spying on private communications? Did you really mean to say that it should spy on students? I have an idea: let’s reward students for turning in other students who are “disloyal” to the ideology. You know, like the former East Bloc informants, and North Korea and other wonderful regimes today.
“Marginalized” students? What’s the definition of “marginalized”?
And “white male supremacy”? On the campus of ultra-left, groovy-UV? Really?
This posting is so laughably over-the-top politically correct that I have to conclude it was intended as satire. Please tell me it was intended as satire. Please.