NIU reiterates ‘no hate speech’ value
DeKALB | Daniel Eiland, sophomore electrical engineering major, was on his way to Grant Towers Thursday afternoon when a silver pickup truck donning a Confederate Flag and swastika pulled alongside him.
The four male occupants, one of which held a gun in his legs, began calling racial slurs and telling Eiland he doesn’t belong in their town.
Eiland posted a status on Facebook Thursday detailing the incident, which has garnered about 3,400 reactions, 2,102 shares and 390 comments as of Sunday night. He received numerous comments expressing positive feedback on the status.
“Good for you, you are so right young man, whomever you are,” commented Facebook user Phyllis Williams.
Eiland said he did not call police to file a report following the incident but was sought out by the NIU and DeKalb Police Departments after his status went viral so the incident could be investigated.
Outrage has sparked nationwide about President-elect Donald Trump, who has been dubbed by some as homophobic, xenophobic and racist, following the election Tuesday.
“Honestly, it had something to do with the presidential election,” Eiland said. “This election gave people the power to say and do anything they please.”
NIU officials released a campus update via email Saturday acknowledging the alleged incident.
“Discrimination, hate speech, harassment and intimidation are unacceptable and violate all that we value as a university,” according to the update.
Traci Jennings, Black Student Union president, declined to comment about the incident.
NIU Police Sergeant Alan Smith was not immediately available for comment.
“What happened—that doesn’t make me not love every other race,” Eiland said. “I will still care about everyone. I will still support everyone… I will still encourage other people. Whether or not people believe me, I will still be there to encourage others and uplift them.”
To report known information about the incident, call the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400 or the NIU Police Department at 815-753-1212. Call the NIU Police Department at 815-753-8477 to anonymously report a tip.
