Wofford College continues to allow racial injustice to diminish the Black student experience on campus while failing to adequately address acts of racism and harassment. During Spring Weekend on Friday, May 1, 2026, into the early hours of Saturday, May 2, numerous Black students were subjected to deeply disturbing racist behavior committed by members of the Kappa Alpha fraternity on Greek Row. Reports include the use of racial slurs, including the n-word, and the throwing of old, rotten potatoes at Black students. Black students were reportedly told they needed to kneel or dance in order to enter the fraternity house. Further, Black male students were physically assaulted by large groups of white male students. However, the Black students were detained in a police vehicle for questioning, while the alleged assailants were not. Additionally, Black students’ personal property has been reported to be vandalized in the hallways of the residence halls, contributing to a hostile and discriminatory living environment.
 

Instead of being welcomed into the campus community with respect and support, Black students were subjected to humiliation, racism, and hostility.
These incidents were formally reported through Wofford College’s campus reporting system to the appropriate administrators in the Office for Civil Rights, Compliance and Community Initiatives and Campus Life and Student Development by Black women and other women of color who experienced these incidents as students. Yet, despite the seriousness of these allegations, the institution has failed to adequately address or hold members of Kappa Alpha accountable or communicate meaningful action to protect Black students and uphold campus safety. Students should not have to fear retaliation, silencing, or institutional inaction when reporting racism. We are deeply concerned that the administration is attempting to minimize and contain this situation, as the campus culture has historically done, rather than publicly address the harm caused and the broader campus climate that enabled it.

We are calling on Wofford College to:

• Publicly address the incident and condemn racist behavior on campus
• Commission an independent, third-party investigation, not a campus-led investigation, into the reported actions of Kappa Alpha members
• Publicly release findings and accountability measures related to the investigation
• Implement appropriate sanctions, suspensions, and disciplinary actions for those responsible
• Provide meaningful support and protection for affected Black students
• Commit to stronger accountability measures regarding racial harassment and campus climate

This is timely, as the campus departs for graduation after May 17. Visibility and external support are urgently needed to hold the institution accountable and protect students from being silenced before this becomes another incident that goes unaddressed.

By signing and sharing this petition, you are standing in solidarity with Black students at Wofford College and demanding institutional accountability, transparency, and action.

Read more about the campus history of Black At Wofford