UMass Amherst officials said the university has experienced a jump in racist occurrences targeting African American and Black students.
The incidents started a few days before classes began. They include a person driving by a group of Black students and yelling a racist epithet.
Black student organizations also received emails which the university described as "vile, blatantly racist, and violently offensive." It's unclear whether they emanated from on campus.
Nefertiti Walker, the university's vice chancellor and chief diversity officer, said UMass has mobilized to help students who have been impacted.
"It's been a collaborative effort across campus with deans and student affairs administrators, assistant deans, staff in all parts of campus, counseling services," Walker said Friday. "Everyone's jumping in to support the students."
Walker said the UMass Police are investigating. And the IT department is trying to figure out who sent the emails.
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