MU Police are investigating [a series of anti-Semitic messages drawn in a stairwell at Mark Twain residence hall](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/4/13/mu-officials-investigate-anti-semitic-writing-resi/) on April 9 and 10. Swastikas, triangles and the word “heil” were drawn in what appeared to be charcoal in the northwestern stairwell of the building.

In response, the Department of Residential Life posted flyers to notify residents of the incidents, and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin [issued a statement](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/4/14/loftin-anti-semitic-messages-deplorable-mu-investi/) condemning the offensive message and vowing to discipline the perpetrator. Various members of the campus community have also decried the incidents as “hateful” and “threatening.”

These acts of discrimination are absolutely disgraceful, and like Loftin said in his statement, “unworthy of this institution and its values.” We’ve heard those words before, but we have yet to see some concrete solutions coming from the administration.

ResLife’s response to the incidents was well-executed. The staff at Mark Twain residence hall immediately reported both incidents to MUPD and submitted bias reports, and held meetings to address residents’ concerns and make them feel safe.

The department has already done so much to promote diversity, such as introducing gender-neutral housing and bathrooms, and encouraging freshman interest groups to attend cultural events on campus.

There’s always more room for improvement, though, as evidenced by this weekend’s incidents, and the impetus falls on all of us to prevent such heinous events from recurring in the residence halls and on campus.

ResLife administrators should place greater emphasis on expanding their residents’ critical perspectives. This improvement could come in the form of a mandatory cultural training session or creating new multicultural events, just to list a couple of ideas.

Cultural competency should not focus on just one department of the university, but extend across the entire campus. The most comprehensive and long-term solution to combat ignorance and insensitivity would be to create a new cultural competency course requirement for all students to complete before receiving their MU diploma. The idea is not news to administrators; students have repeatedly advocated for this in [forums](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/3/18/dministration-criticized-lack-action-race-relation/) and [meetings](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/3/11/intergroup-dialogue-course-among-students-requests/). Faculty Council and administration have thus far resisted. But listen: _Students want this. This would make a difference._ How clear must it be made?

Such a plan could be implemented in many ways that are cost-efficient. For an example, students could be presented the option to choose from existing courses required to receive the Multicultural Certificate to fulfill their new obligation to educate themselves.

When thinking about these solutions, administrators should aspire to give students a better understanding of what it means to be a student on this campus. These solutions should challenge students to expand their horizons and how they perceive cultures and backgrounds that are different from their own. It’s not indoctrination — it’s critical thinking; it’s intellect with empathy.

To accomplish this goal, there must be a place in which students who are reluctant to participate and step out of their comfort zones are encouraged to challenge their own viewpoints.

[But we’ve already said this](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/3/11/mu-should-bring-diversity-classroom/). We’ve already highlighted these points and countless others, but we are unfortunately here again. If these kinds of transgressions continue and nothing changes, we will say it again and again until the administration finally decides to give the students of MU what they deserve.

We’ve seen what happens when the administration loses its focus on actively promoting diversity around campus. One Mizzou was a program that had the potential to create a campus-wide change in the way students think about diversity and acceptance. The initiative was created under the supervision of then-Chancellor Brady Deaton and then-Missouri Students Association President Eric Woods after vandalism appeared outside of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center in 2010 and Hatch Hall [in 2011](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/2/12/mupd-begins-investigation-racially-charged-graffit/).

“Let me just say that for me, as chancellor of the university, this truly is the proudest moment that I have had,” [Deaton said in a story about the unveiling of One Mizzou in April 2011](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/4/8/one-mizzou-diversity-campaign-unveiled/).

Instead, the movement came to a screeching halt this year and [MSA decided to cut all of their funding put toward the program for the 2015-2016 budget](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/3/10/msa-budget-enters-committees/).

Faculty and administrators, the time has long passed for _just_ forums and listening sessions. The time has passed for inaction. If we want to see a clear, distinct change on our campus, we need to see you take action, and it needs to happen now.

This school year has been a momentous one because of the volume of students speaking out for change, but the year will ultimately be defined by the action taken by the university to catalyze this change. When the current group of brave, passionate student activists have long graduated and left campus, how will their work be preserved? It must be done through concrete action, and just like the signs protesters left after last month’s Greektown march, it begins at the chancellor’s doorstep.