Rude advisors at Kennesaw . Smh pic.twitter.com/ugcX4gnIsp
— KB (@IamKB_) May 14, 2015
Video showing a Kennesaw State University employee telling a Black student he was “harassing” staff as he waited to speak to his academic advisor is raising questions about race relations on the Georgia campus.
Kevin Bruce, who is working on an exercise science degree, recorded his encounter with Abby Dawson, the Director of Advising and Internships in the Exercise Science and Sport Management department, on Wednesday. After a failed attempt to clarify some questions about his transient form with Dawson, Bruce set up a meeting with another advisor.
As Bruce waited for Ms. Margaret Tilley, Dawson accused the student of harassing the advisor since he didn’t have an appointment. Huffington Post reports:
“I’m not harassing no one,” Bruce is heard saying in the video. “You are,” Dawson responds.
A moment later Bruce states, “I’m just waiting to talk to someone, I’m not harassing no one though.”
“Sitting here until someone’s available, is harassing them,” Dawson replies.
“That’s not harassing them,” Bruce slowly responds, to which she says, “It is. Would you like me to call campus security?”
It isn’t clear whether Bruce met with Tilley, or if campus security was actually called. After Bruce posted the video to Twitter, the hashtag #ItsBiggerThanKSU was created. Many students – Black and White – shared their unpleasant experiences with Dawson.
Definitely not a fit advisor .. Doesn’t enjoy what she does and it always shows. #ItsBiggerThanKSU @kennesawstate pic.twitter.com/XUfbi7Rz5M
— Amber Wann (@AmberWann) May 14, 2015
#ItsBiggerThanKSU I had a VERY similar situation dealing with the same KSU advising staff!!! pic.twitter.com/BU7lfHhtLv — Austin Smith (@_A_Smith) May 14, 2015
Many students were quick to denounce race as a factor in Bruce’s encounter, but others disagreed.
“Abby Dawson isn’t racist, she’s rude to EVERYONE!” But are there always racial implications in her rudeness?She threatens cops in everyone?
— Queen Mikayla (@mikaylaesthetic) May 15, 2015
I had Abby Dawson as an advisor. Is she rude? Yes. So was she a racist? No, she was equally rude to everyone.
— Kevin Pate (@kevinpatewbhf) May 15, 2015
I love it when people who don’t face racism want to discuss what is racist. Director Dawson has power& #thisisracisthttps://t.co/4xkSKbbFpc
— A.Ntozake_L (@NtozakeL) May 14, 2015
KSU released a statement on Thursday following the incident:
“University officials are working with a student to review his concerns regarding the behavior of an academic advisor in the WellStar College of Health and Human Services.”
Neither Dawson nor department head J.C. Bradbury have spoken out on the matter as of yet. We wonder if they will?
SOURCE: HuffPo | PHOTO CREDIT: Twitter
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#WaitingWhileBlack: Kennesaw State University Student Accused Of Harassment Because He Was Waiting was originally published on newsone.com