In lieu of the recent arrest of ethnic studies Professor Antwi Akom, racial profiling on the SF State campus is once again a hot issue.

In a statement released last month concerning the arrest of Akom, SF State President Robert Corrigan described the university as "a campus community that identifies itself by a central commitment to social justice and equity." Yet, racial tension in the past may have already tarnished the history of SF State.

Vandals smeared fecal matter and urine on the floor when the new Richard Oakes Multicultural Center opened in 2002, according to previous [X]press reports. This semester, members of the La Raza student organization reported receiving hate mail with pictures of Che Guevara crossed out and a written message stating "Che killed my people."

“I had a California history professor tell my class that Cesar Chavez was worthless and the whole Latino movement was a waste of time,” said Jason Bell, student and director of Project Rebound.

“When I told them that I worked here they seemed shocked, they gave me a look and (I felt that) they couldn’t believe that a black man works here.”

Peers continually mistake Aristel Delacruz, a liberal studies student who identifies himself as a Filipino-American, for being Chinese he said.

“I am just surprised that at this college where classes are taught on the Philippines and China and there are students who still confuse the two,” said Delacruz. “I just wish that students would be more aware and sensitive.”

When asked, other students feel that racial profiling still exists but they have not personally experienced it on this campus.

“I have met the most open-minded group of people on this campus,” said Oscar Aguirre, a Latino student originally from Houston. "Look at the student organizations on this campus, you won’t find that in the south.”

Associated Students Inc. President Chris Jackson said he is working with the student organization

Students Against Racism to prevent prejudice actions from happening on this campus in the future. Jackson said when he was walking from the library to his car one night, university police shined their flashlight on him and asked if he was a student. He felt the university police targeted him because of the color of his skin.

“I am not anti-cop, they provide a valuable and necessary service to our campus, however I think that university police need to take cultural sensitivity training classes,” said Jackson.

Jackson wants to rehire an ombudsman to work with student affairs. SF State used to have one in the early 90’s but the position was cut due to funding. The ombudsman would be an independent resource that would be responsible for investigating and settling discrimination disputes on campus.

Currently other California State Universities have an on-campus ombudsman.

Jackson and ASI are also compiling a list of demands for the administration as retribution for the Akom arrest. They are demanding an implementation of an ombudsman, that all charges be dropped against Akom, that Corrigan issues a formal apology to Akom and that the university hire more faculty of color.

“Discrimination is a systemic problem at this university and (the Akom arrest) is just a cough and sniffle in comparison to the virus that is infecting people of color on campus,” said Jackson.