There is some drama going on in Coastal Carolina University's theatre department. Some students are refusing to go to class as they call a comment made by a professor "racially insensitive."
"We are telling ourselves that we have each other when they don't have us," said theatre student Kelis Herriot. "Until we are met with the same respect that we give our professors, we do not owe them that."
CCU theatre students want to shine a spotlight on an issue they say is rampant in the department — racial insensitivity. They said it has been going on for years.
"Students don't feel safe anymore and it's not right," said student Michelle Garcia. The aspiring actors and playwrights dressed in all black Monday. They socialized in the Fine Arts building's courtyard instead of going to class.
The dozens of students said it was a form of protest after a discovery was made in a classroom last Thursday.
"Non-white students' names were written on a board and categorized by their specific race," Kelis Herriot said. A lack of context about it concerned some.
"It made us feel isolated from the department," Herriott said. One of her colleagues said it is important students come together.
"We just need community with each other," Jihad Levermore said. Building community, among students of color, was the very reason the professor said the names were written on the board.
"I was working with two Black students after class was over and I was listening to their frustration and isolation," said Artist-in-Resident Dr. Susan Finque. "One of the students jumped up and started writing names on the board. The stupid thing I did was we left that room and did not erase that board."
However, that plan appeared to backfire. Students who came in afterthought their peers were being singled out.
Finque issued an apology.
"I actually should have guided those students toward reaching toward their peers instead of being that person for them," she said. However, what came after Finque's apology had these students livid.
Students provided ABC15 with screenshots of an email chain where another professor responded to the incident. "I don't think it's a big deal," said Dr. Robert Earnest. "I'm just sad people get their feelings hurt so easily. And they are going into theatre?"
Some students said Earnest's language is unacceptable.
"We are calling for his suspension and a case to be brought against him for removal from the institution," Kelis Herriott added.
Earnest responded to his comments to an email to ABC 15 News.
"I just sent a letter of apology to the DEI committee. My comments were not directed at BIPOC students. Evidently, there was an issue of a list of students that was posted that caused some confusion," he said.
"I then made an insensitive comment asking them to move on from it. I had no idea it would blow up like this."
A university spokesperson also released a statement:
"The leadership of the University and of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts are aware of the complaints that some of our theatre students have communicated. We are working to establish the most appropriate path for resolving their concerns.”