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University of Iowa shows double standard applied to anti-white racism in flyer flap

Police will investigate anyone claiming there’s anti-white racism

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has had multiple opportunities to denounce the message that “All White People Are Racist,” prominently featured on hoodies being sold by a UW-Madison student.

It has not, in the words of a spokesman, because “the individuals involved are exercising their rights to free speech and engaging in a private activity unrelated to their status as students.”

Look no further than three hours southwest of Madison to see how another public university is responding to the opposite situation: having police investigate people for saying anti-white racism exists.

ABC affiliate KCRG called the flyers that were posted two weeks ago near three campus cultural centers (on top of Clinton campaign yard signs) “hateful.” This is what they say:

Are you sick of anti-white propaganda in college? You are not alone

Iowa … We have a right to exist [bearing illustrations of European-looking people]

MORE: UW-Madison student sells ‘All Whites Are Racist’ hoodie, admin approves

Likewise, Daily Iowan TV said the flyers were examples of “bigotry” and “vandalism,” and were “discriminatory” against “various minority students.” (Puzzlingly, it didn’t bother to show any such materials that were posted – or even quote them – so viewers could decide for themselves.)

Student Government President Rachel Zuckerman told the station “we encourage students to take a photo and then report it to the police” – either campus or Iowa City, depending on whether the flyer was on or off campus.

An alumnus apparently kicked off the furor, describing the flyers as “Nazi-propoganda [sic], white elitism, and destruction of queer narratives and subtle/explicit threats,” and said the administration should prevent “further threats against their students.”

The Daily Iowan suggests that other materials have been posted around campus in “recent weeks” that featured “anti-Semitic” and “homophobic” messages, but (again) inexplicably didn’t give examples of any such offensive messages – other than some unidentified people came to “preach homophobic views” on campus grounds last week.

MORE: Hate crime hoax over a bar fight at U. of Iowa

The flyers advertise TheRightStuff.biz, a four-year-old blog whose proprietors are “white and we’re not sorry.” Its mission is:

Reinvigorating dialogue among a disparate and edgy right-wing.

Severely rustling jimmies among the childish and regressive left-wing.

Putting cuckservatives [mainstream conservatives] in the cuck shed where they can watch us with their civilization.

Using the therapeutic power of LARPing [live-action role playing] to help tens of thousands of young men manage their autism

Report free speech in ‘public safety’ app

The administration’s reaction gives a clue as to how UW-Madison would likely react if someone called attention to anti-white racism on campus.

An administration statement said the flyers were “immediately removed upon discovery and the UI police are investigating the incidents,” according to the Daily.

MORE: Anti-racist statue makes Iowa students think KKK is invading

Vice President for Student Life Tom Rocklin – who has appeared several times in College Fix copy – said in the statement that the school is “committed to maintaining an environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person and that fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect”:  

We encourage our campus community to embrace diversity, demonstrate leadership, and be respectful of everyone who uses our shared space.

The statement does not appear to be posted anywhere on the university’s website or social media feeds. According to Campus Reform, the statement also called the flyers “deeply offensive,” said they don’t “represent the values of our institution,” and gave a list of resources for those seeking “help” or counseling in response to the flyers.

The administration also pointed students to its new public safety app Hawk Watch, which launched just a week ago, and told them to report any future offensive messages they see.

MORE: Students offended by anti-racist statue got coursework extensions

The university considers such political messages a crime, as made plain by the app’s announcement:

The app, which is available to anyone with a UI email address, also allows users to send anonymous crime tips to UI DPS via text message.

“As technology continues to advance, we’ve realized that many students feel more comfortable text messaging than talking on the phone,” says [emergency management coordinator Floyd] Johnson. “By giving students access to an application like Hawk Watch, we hope students will feel more comfortable contacting the UI Department of Public Safety, whether it’s to request a guardian, report a crime, or share ideas for how to improve safety on our campus.”

If you haven’t learned already from our Hawkeyes coverage, the University of Iowa has a deep double standard when it comes to race and culture.

Read Daily and Campus Reform stories.

MORE: Student speech is worthless at U. of Iowa

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IMAGE: KCRG screenshot

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About the Author
Associate Editor
Greg Piper served as associate editor of The College Fix from 2014 to 2021.