Saint Mary’s Hate Crime Scandal Student Targeted Fears Grow

Saint Mary’s Hate Crime Probe: Black Student Targeted

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Racial Slurs on Campus Target Black Freshman

A chilling series of racist incidents rocked Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga. A Black freshman, identified only as David, found himself the target of intense racial hostility. The harassment included students shouting vile slurs like the N-word outside his dorm room. Disturbingly, these verbal assaults escalated to include chants like “kill the N-word” (ABC7 News). David managed to capture audio evidence of this terrifying harassment, documenting the hate he faced.

The aggression wasn’t limited to verbal attacks, however. Vandalism brought the threats closer. Racial slurs, including the specific phrase “Kill N-words,” were discovered carved into a communal bathroom door in David’s dormitory (ABC7 News). Saint Mary’s College later confirmed this act of vandalism. Furthermore, the college acknowledged it as part of an official hate crime investigation launched by local law enforcement (Saint Mary’s College News). These events paint a frightening picture of the environment this young Black student endured.

Saint Mary’s College Investigation: A Questionable Response

The response from Saint Mary’s College administration, particularly President Roger Thompson, drew sharp criticism. During a meeting intended to address the crisis, Thompson met with David’s parents. Instead of focusing on identifying and disciplining those responsible for the hate crimes, the president reportedly suggested the family consider moving David out of the school (Atlanta Black Star). The family perceived this advice as prioritizing the perpetrators’ comfort over the victim’s safety and right to education.

The college’s official narrative presented a slightly different version. In a public statement, Saint Mary’s claimed Thompson offered David the option to relocate to a different dorm room (Saint Mary’s College News). The statement also mentioned the president “expressed understanding” if the family ultimately chose to transfer David elsewhere. Critically, however, the official communication made no mention of specific consequences or disciplinary actions against the individuals who committed the racist acts. This omission fueled the family’s frustration and accusations of institutional failure.

California University Racism: Family Criticizes Failures

David’s parents voiced strong criticism of Saint Mary’s College. They accused the administration of prioritizing the institution’s reputation over the safety and well-being of students of color (Atlanta Black Star). This accusation stemmed from what they perceived as delayed responses to their complaints. Moreover, the apparent lack of meaningful disciplinary action against the perpetrators solidified their view of institutional failure.

Seeking tangible change, the family outlined specific demands. They called for the implementation of a strict zero-tolerance racism policy across the campus. Additionally, they pushed for mandatory anti-bias training for all students and staff. The family also requested robust victim support systems (ABC7 News). As of the reporting, however, Saint Mary’s College had not fully implemented these crucial reforms, deepening concerns about its commitment to addressing systemic issues.

Understanding California Hate Crime Law

The incidents at Saint Mary’s are being investigated as potential hate crimes. It’s important to understand what this means under California law. A hate crime isn’t a separate crime itself, but rather a criminal act motivated by bias. California Penal Code §422.55 defines these acts as those committed because of a victim’s actual or perceived race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or disability (Shouse Law Group). The motivation behind the act is, therefore, the key element.

Furthermore, Penal Code §422.6(a) specifically prohibits interfering with someone’s rights using force or threats based on these protected characteristics (Kann California Law Group). This could include denying someone the right to a safe education through racist threats or vandalism. Prosecutors must prove that this biased motivation was a substantial factor in the crime (Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer Pro). If proven, hate crime findings can lead to enhanced penalties, potentially upgrading misdemeanors to felonies depending on the severity, like property damage exceeding $950 or the presence of violence (Kann California Law Group).

College Hate Crime Patterns: Not an Isolated Issue

The events at Saint Mary’s are sadly not unique within higher education. Similar incidents plague campuses across the country, often revealing patterns of inadequate responses from institutions. For example, in 2024, Gettysburg College expelled a white student. This student reportedly carved the N-word into a Black teammate’s chest using a box cutter during a swim team gathering (The Gettysburgian, ABC News). While expulsion represents decisive action, the initial occurrence highlights the presence of extreme racism.

Looking back further, San Jose State University faced its own crisis in 2013-2014. Three white students were criminally charged and ultimately expelled for subjecting their Black roommate to degrading racial harassment. This included using slurs, displaying Confederate symbols, and locking him in his room (Ron Cordova Law). Consequently, these cases demonstrate that colleges possess the authority to take severe disciplinary action against perpetrators of hate crimes. They also underscore the recurring nature of such incidents and the varying degrees of institutional willingness to act decisively.

Saint Mary’s College Investigation: Contradictory Messages

Saint Mary’s College faced scrutiny over inconsistencies between its public statements and the experiences reported by David’s family. The college asserted it took “immediate action” following the reported incidents. These actions included holding meetings with students and increasing security patrols in the affected areas (Saint Mary’s College News). However, the family described these measures as vague and ultimately ineffective in stopping the harassment or holding anyone accountable.

Reporting by ABC7 News highlighted these discrepancies. The family felt promises made by the administration were not fully met (ABC7 News). For instance, the significant delay in issuing a campus-wide alert about the racist vandalism found in the bathroom— reportedly over eight hours—caused additional distress and fear (ABC7 News Bay Area (YouTube)). Furthermore, the suggestion that David should consider transferring, rather than focusing on removing the threat, felt like a profound contradiction to the college’s stated commitment to student safety.

Demands for Reform and Victim Support

In response to the incidents and the perceived institutional shortcomings, David’s family clearly articulated demands for systemic change at Saint Mary’s. Central to their demands was the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy specifically addressing racism (ABC7 News). This implies automatic, serious consequences for perpetrators. They also insisted on mandatory anti-bias training for the entire campus community. Such training aims to educate individuals about unconscious biases and structural racism, fostering a more aware and equitable environment (BiasSync).

Beyond policy changes, the family emphasized the critical need for robust support for victims. Surviving hate crimes requires access to immediate resources like trauma counseling and mental health services (Justice Canada). Effective support also includes transparent communication about the investigation’s progress and institutional accountability (ABC7 News Bay Area (YouTube)). Unfortunately, as of late April 2025, reports indicated these demands remained largely unmet by Saint Mary’s College, raising questions about the institution’s commitment to substantive reform beyond initial, less impactful measures (ABC7 News Bay Area (YouTube)).

Campus Hate Crime Policies: Investigation Status & Impact

The Moraga Police Department confirmed an active hate crime investigation into the racist incidents at Saint Mary’s College (ABC7 News Bay Area (YouTube)). This means law enforcement is examining the evidence under California’s hate crime statutes, considering the bias motivation behind the threats and vandalism. However, despite the ongoing investigation, authorities had not publicly identified any suspects (Saint Mary’s College News). The college itself also reported no disciplinary actions taken against any perpetrators involved in the multiple reported incidents (Wiley Online Library).

This lack of identified suspects or disciplinary action raises concerns. Identifying perpetrators in hate crime cases can indeed be challenging, sometimes due to a lack of witnesses or sufficient evidence (ABC7 News Bay Area (YouTube)). Yet, critics argue that institutions sometimes prioritize their reputation over thorough investigation and accountability (SPLC). Consequently, failure to address such incidents decisively can have lasting negative impacts. It risks damaging the college’s reputation, potentially affecting enrollment, especially among minority students, and fostering an environment where targeted students feel unsafe and unsupported (Marlin Chronicle).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.