12-4-2018

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Western Washington University students staged a sit-in Monday night outside the office of the school president after a student accused of writing racist, homophobic and sexually violent graffiti around campus was allowed back on campus.

University Police arrested student Shayne Merwin November 25th.

President Sabah Randhawa told students and faculty they trespassed Merwin from all of the campus except where he would go for classes, but his fellow students say that isn’t good enough.

University student Abdul-Malik Ford remarked, “Having him and his presence on this campus as well, for other people to be tormented by, is something that I feel that has threatened the safety of a lot of other people.”

KOMO reports Randhawa spoke with the students and answered their questions for several hours, telling them the school must follow protocol and due process.

However, administrators say Merwin had decided on his own not to return for the rest of the quarter.