The University of Lincoln has launched an investigation after racist graffiti was scrawled across a wall on campus.
Vice-chancellor Mary Stuart has said that racism and hate is “not tolerated” and she has called on students and staff to be “vigilant and proactive” in reporting inappropriate behaviour.
The university removed the graffiti and reported the incident to the police after a student posted a photo of the “racial slur” on a community Facebook page on Monday morning.
Rhianne Morris, the university's students’ union BAME officer, tweeted she had woken up to emails and posts about racism on campus.
She said: “This is not acceptable. This is not the Lincoln I know and love. We cannot allow this to continue.”
In a message to staff and students, Professor Stuart said: “I am dismayed to discover that today [Monday] there was racist graffiti on our campus. This is not acceptable and has now been removed and is being investigated.”
She added: “All of has have a role to play in combating bias and bullying as a means to stop discrimination and I ask all of you to join together and to be vigilant and proactive in reporting suspicious or inappropriate behaviour.
“Only by uniting against discrimination can we support one another.”
Kudzai Muzangaza, president of the students’ union, added: “One of the main things I have been proud of about Lincoln is that students come together as part of one community and accept that incidents of discrimination are wholly unacceptable.”
A university spokesperson told The Independent: "The university received a report that racist graffiti had been found on an external wall in a public area of our campus.
“The graffiti was removed and the incident has been reported to the police.
“We are doing all we can to identify the perpetrator and to support any students or staff affected by this incident.”
The university has an open campus and is closely integrated with the city, they added.
“With more than 100 nationalities represented in our student population we are proud of our inclusive and open environment at Lincoln and take a zero tolerance approach to racism in all its forms,” they said.
The graffiti comes after The Independent revealed last year that the number of racist incidents in universities across the UK has surged by more than 60 per cent in two years.
Earlier this month, police said they were investigating an alleged racist incident in student halls in Newcastle after a video emerged of people using the N-word.
