Spring Hill College students gathered on Rydex Commons to support the campus community after someone graffitied a racist message on the wall of a residence hall on October 26. 

Organizations, including the Black Student Union, Black Colleague Association, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity partnered with the Campus Programming Board and Center for Student Involvement to host a “Blackout The Hill” event. 

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity member, Vaughn Terrell, described how he felt, as well as other students, addressing the frustrations of the student body. “I just ask that the administration gives us the support that we ask for,” Terrell said. “I think for us we want consistency, we want support, we want the proper love and affection that we ask for and that we need. Not only for people of color, but for the LGBTQ+ community, we want everyone to feel welcomed and loved and appreciated.”

The student-led event featured speeches by students and members of the Mobile community. All students were invited to participate in sharing experiences they had on campus that made them feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. Hammy Hamilton, a Student Government Association representative, took the chance to speak during the event. “My hopes are that racist comments will not exist after this, in any shape or form,” Hamilton said. “Racism never has a spot here on campus, and that’s how it should be. I hope that every single student takes a piece of this, that they listen, they learn, and that they implement this for the rest of their life.”

Student Government Association, Campus Ministry, Counseling Services, and other campus organizations emailed all students to offer resources to those who were impacted. Students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to wear all black to the event on the Rydex to stand in solidarity against racism and the incident. 

For more information go to CSI’s Instagram at CSI IG.. To watch the full video go to Coverage of Blackout Event.