ATLANTA — A historic Atlanta school known for rising above is facing allegations Wednesday night of discrimination on campus.
Students at Spelman College say messages of hate were left at their door, because one of them is transgender.
"We don’t want you. F*** you freaks. Keep Spelman safe. No queers."
Spelman senior Amber Warren said she found that hateful note directed at her scribbled on a piece of ripped lined notebook paper.
"I’m just hurt because I feel like I worked so hard to create safe spaces for everybody," she told 11Alive. "Even though I did all this work, it’s not about individuals, it’s really about unity."
Warren is the president of Afrikete, the historically black women’s college LGBTQ organization. She said it was not the first message of hate directed toward her. Warren said the first message came at the announcement of pride week.
"Keep your (transgenfer slur) out of our bathrooms thanks," she remembers the message saying.
Warren said the message was referring to her partner, a trans man, also a student at the school who lives on campus.
"Why do you think you guys are being targeted," asked 11Alive's Natisha Lance, also a graduate of Spelman College.
"The first note kind of did come out when Spelman connection posted that pride week was coming," Warren explained. "The second note came at the end of pride week."
The incidents come just months after the school announced plans in September to accept transgender students. Spelman is just the second historically black women’s college to announce such a policy.
It was highly-debated among alumna and current students, and now that it's just months away from going into full effect on campus, Warren said the school has some work to do to make all students feel safe.
In a letter sent to the Spelman community, President Mary S. Campbell wrote:
“Like same-sex colleges all over the country, Spelman is taking into account evolving definitions of gender identity in a changing world.”
Spelman’s new policy will roll out next school year, but Warren doesn’t think there will be any significant changes.
"I feel like it is going to be reactionary, it is not going to be proactive," she said.
While 11Alive was speaking with Warren, the Dean of College Relations approached her and told her a letter saying the notes were unacceptable and a violation of Spelman principles and values and code of conduct. went out to students.
"It’s just an email to me," Warren said. "It’s a start, but it’s not helping what happened. It’s not really putting any fear of reprimandation to the students."
Right now, Warren wants the school to take stronger actions to ensure students get the education they need to have tolerance for everyone.
