New Calif. committee to review college hate crime policies

A new state committee will investigate how to reduce hate crimes and student harassment at state universities, including the University of California.

Calif. Assembly Speaker John Pérez, D-Los Angeles, announced the Select Committee on Campus Climate on Wednesday. The group will hold hearings and evaluate UC, California State University and community college policies for responding to hate crimes and incidences of harassment.

“Over these past few years we have seen too many incidents on California college campuses perpetrated by people with malicious intent to harm or demean others,” Pérez said in a statement. “We need to act vigorously to ensure that our campuses are welcoming to all and reflective of the rich diversity of this great state.”

The committee’s creation was prompted by an incident last year when four San Jose State University students were charged with hate crimes after allegedly barricading a then-17-year-old black student in his room, putting a U-shaped bicycle lock around his neck and taunting him with racial slurs, according to the Associated Press.

“It’s clear from this particularly disturbing incident – one that harkens back to uglier times in our nation’s history – that we still have a lot of work to do to ensure California’s college campuses are safe and welcoming educational environments for every student,” said state Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, who will chair the committee.

Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin senior staff.