Penn State University Police and Public Safety is working with multiple partners to investigate hate speech directed at the university’s Black Caucus during a “Zoom-bombing” incident last week, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.
University police are consulting with a combination of internal and external resources in the investigation, including Penn State’s Office of Information Security, the FBI and the Centre County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the department, charges of ethnic intimidation, harassment, disorderly conduct and unlawful use of a computer could be filed against the 51 unauthorized users who allegedly crashed the Black Caucus’s Zoom video conference during Penn State’s Involvement Fair on Jan. 27. Those individuals reportedly directed “racist and homophobic slurs” at three Black Caucus executives and sent anti-Semitic and white supremacist language and symbols in that chat.
There are currently no indications that the individuals who directed the hate speech at Black Caucus members are connected to the Penn State community, police said.
“Unfortunately, this Zoom attack on underrepresented communities is one among a number of similar incidents targeting universities across the nation,” according to the statement.
Police commended Black Caucus members for reporting it immediately and “taking steps to preserve crucial evidence, which has significantly supported the investigation.”
Penn State administrators, including Student Affairs and Education Equity leaders, have reached out to affected individuals to provide counseling services. Police also offered support through their Victim Services unit, and the department’s diversity, equity and inclusion director reached out to Black Caucus leaders to offer time to discuss the incident and find ways to support them.
Anyone with additional information regarding the hate speech incident is encouraged to contact University Police by calling (814) 863-1111 or submitting an online tip.
“Investigations that involve digital forensic evidence can be lengthy, but police want the community to know that they are actively investigating this crime with the full resources of University Police and Public Safety,” the statement said.
StateCollege.com’s Geoff Rushton contributed to this story.
