Several “bias-related incidents” on campus are bringing racial discussions to the forefront at Loyola.

According to an e-mail from University Police, someone reported on Oct. 28 that two student organization flyers posted on the Black Student Union bulletin board were vandalized with racial epithets.

A week later, a sheet of paper with racial and sexual-orientation slurs was posted on the education department’s bulletin board in Mercy Hall.

The note was signed “Committee for a White America.”

An e-mail from the Rev. William Byron, S.J., interim university president, said that it appeared that the sheet had been pulled from a trash bin.

The next day, students held an open-mic forum and petition-signing during the window on the steps of Monroe Library.

Organizers invited students to speak about experiences they’d had with racism.

Although some students said that this was a positive step, others expressed disappointment at the turnout.

“It will make a difference to people that were there, but not enough people came out,” said Norma Miranda, business management sophomore. “It was emotional. Some people were crying. The main people that need to change were not there.”

Byron responded to the racial acts in a campus e-mail and apologized in the name of the university, but he did not attend the forum.

“We were aggravated that Father Byron, and especially the provost, were not there,” English writing senior Latoya Simons said. “The administration has been talking about solutions like a multi-cultural center for years, but it’s not a priority.”

At a open discussion in the music school Monday night, Byron said that he’s “saddened it would happen here. It’s outrageous.”

“It diminishes what Loyola and alumni have established over the years,” said Jade Harrison, broadcast journalism junior.

“It’s unacceptable.”

After the forum, Jim Eiseman, president of student affairs, encouraged students to keep pushing the administration for changes.

“It’s great for students to critique the administration,” Chris Cameron, director of student activities said. “It’s even better when the students take actions themselves.”

Loyola has a diverse student population, but some say that different cultures fail to interconnect.

“There’s hardly any mixing of different ethnicities,” Simons said. “That shocked me when I first came to Loyola.”

“I think most students are aware of social and diversity issues, but I do think our university, as a whole, has a problem dealing with racial issues on campus,” sociology senior and SGA vice president Mary Grace Stuart said.

“I just hope that that those who need to listen will hear this,” political science senior Dan Roberti said. “Loyola has a long way to go.”