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Campuses come together, send letters of support

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Northwest Indian college student Lea Scott holds her letter to Western students.

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In response to students of color feeling unsafe on campus, 40 handwritten letters, containing messages of gratitude and unity, were handed to the Ethnic Student Center on Monday, Dec. 7. On Nov. 24, university president Bruce Shepard sent out an email announcing the cancellation of classes. The decision was made following the report that threatening posts targeting students of color had been made on social media app, Yik Yak. “It is important for minorities to reach out to minorities,” said Lea Scott, Petroske’s intern and student within NWIC’s care program.“I can’t imagine going to school and not feeling safe, so I felt in my heart that it was important to express how I felt for Western students and to let them know that we support them.” Scott’s personal letter thanked Western for their efforts to cater to different ethnic backgrounds on campus. Her letter was written to motivate students to stay focused and stay strong, Scott said.
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Lea Scott shows her letter addressed to Western Students after hearing how they felt unsafe.
“It was just sweet to see these letters come in, especially with where we are at,” Panelo said. “In my position, I am very humble about what others have been saying about us and letting us know that they are standing in solidarity with our students here.”  
Petroske has many takeaways from her experience working within the Ethnic Student Center. The basic principle she learned at Western was that everyone on campus makes up a tree, she said.
“We are a tree. The tree has many roots and it has all of these branches. All together we are very strong,” Petroske said.
Whether at Western, NWIC, or just within the Bellingham community, diversity is everywhere; it does not matter if someone is of color or not, Petroske said. Petroske and Scott hope to come back to Western and discuss the letters in detail. NWIC and Western have always had a relationship, but building a stronger connection is something that can be worked on, Panelo said. “We are still trying to figure out all of the things that need to be resolved in the Ethnic Student Center, internally, first,” Panelo said. “It has been motivating to see other organizations wanting to work with us.”
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