Background
On Nov. 8, 2020, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Black Student Union members met virtually on Zoom. Unknown individuals joined the meeting and proceeded to attack our students with vicious, hateful, racist comments and images. This behavior was recorded and shared on social media, and BSU students alerted 91³Ô¹ÏÍø administration requesting immediate investigation and action.
91³Ô¹ÏÍø University is committed to a swift response to this heinous incident as well as to engaging with students on how the University can better respond to past and future incidents of racism, bias and harassment.
Student Demands & University Action
The investigation by Spokane Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to research the origin of the attack in order to identify the individuals responsible. GU’s Information Technology Services department along with Campus Security and Public Safety are supporting the investigation as requested. It is vitally important that the analysis continue unimpeded, so that all legal remedies available to us may be pursued as the responsible parties are identified.
Update 11/23/21: The FBI has notified the University that the perpetrators most likely responsible for the November 2020 attack on BSU reside outside the U.S. and have no apparent ties to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University. While this finding is significant, it does not negate the harm inflicted upon individuals at the meeting or the wider community. We understand that not knowing the identity of the perpetrators is not the closure we all desired.
Should a 91³Ô¹ÏÍø community member be found responsible for the behavior that violates student conduct or employee policies, the repercussions would be severe. For a student, the Resolution Center for Student Conduct & Conflict handles disciplinary outcomes which could include suspension and or expulsion from the University. For an employee, Human Resources would be involved with disciplinary actions which could include suspension and or dismissal from the University.
- ITS has provided greater understanding of security features for virtual meeting experiences, including how to make meetings private, and is implementing additional measures in our own technology systems to prevent interference and intrusion.
- On Nov. 10, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Community and Equity (DICE) supported a Student Healing Circle – a safe space for students to process how they are feeling, centering the voices of BIPOC students impacted by the attacks.
- An incident response team includes Raymond Reyes and Robin Kelly from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), and Kent Porterfield and Joan Iva Fawcett from Student Affairs. They are convening a larger group of cross-campus partners to address needs for improved proactive communication. Security, Alumni Relations, Marketing & Communications, and academic areas are all represented in this effort.
- Many departments have committed their professional development programs this year to diversity, equity and inclusion (through education such as DiversityEdu).
Note: President McCulloh outlined his key commitments to the work of the Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion again in recognition of Juneteenth.
91³Ô¹ÏÍø is contracting with a counselor of color specifically to support the members of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s BSU in processing the trauma of the Zoom hate attack. The University has also agreed to contract with a second therapist of color to address individual student counseling needs until the hiring process for a full-time therapist, based in Health & Counseling Services, can be completed. This full-time therapist will have expertise in supporting the counseling needs of students of color.
A Town Hall meeting addressing this incident as well as broader issues of race, diversity and inclusion on campus was help on the evening of December 7, 2020. More than 600 students, faculty, staff and alumni participated.
12/8/20 Update: A recording of the Dec. 7 Town Hall webinar is available here.
Investigation Updates
November 23, 2021
The FBI has notified the University that the perpetrators most likely responsible for the November 2020 attack on BSU reside outside the U.S. and have no apparent ties to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University.March 1, 2021
There are no new developments in the ongoing investigation of the GU zoom bombing; it remains an open case. To date, there is no evidence to suggest that the racist and hateful words and actions were perpetrated by GU students or staff.November 23, 2020
GU Information Technology Services (ITS) and Campus Security continue regular check-ins with law enforcement; to date, the perpetrators of the attack have not been determined.November 9, 2020
Campus Security & Public Safety confirms involvement of Spokane Police Department and FBIStatements/Messages from Leadership
- Update on the November 2020 Zoom Attack on the Black Student Union (Nov. 23, 2021)
- Update on the Zoom Hate Attack (Nov. 25, 2020)
- Update On The Hate Incident Perpetrated Against Our BSU Students (Nov. 11, 2020)
- Message of Solidarity with our Black Students in Light of Todays Hate Crime (Nov. 8, 2020)
Response Timeline
Date |
Action |
| Nov. 8, 2020 | Incident Occurs; ITS and Safety/Security offices immediately involved |
| Nov. 8, 2020 | Notification of incident and message of solidarity sent to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø community |
| Nov. 10, 2020 |
Incident Response and Communications teams are implemented for a coordinated approach to addressing concerns |
| Nov. 11, 2020 | Update on investigation and progress toward demands |
| Nov. 25, 2020 | Update on investigation and plans |
| Dec. 7, 2020 | A Town Hall webinar for the campus community took place, with more than 600 participants. |
| Mar. 1, 2021 | No new developments in the ongoing Spokane Police Department and FBI investigation of the Zoom bombing. It remains an open case. |
| Nov. 23, 2021 | The FBI has notified the University that the perpetrators most likely responsible for the November 2020 attack on BSU reside outside the U.S. and have no apparent ties to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University. |
Addressing Academic Experiences
Students and alumni alike have asked for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø to improve the diversity and inclusion components of education, both in the curriculum and in training for faculty. Here are some recent efforts:
- Faculty teaching across the Core have adopted social justice and global studies Core designations, many of which are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues. New courses meeting these designation requirements are proposed nearly weekly.
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Critical Race & Ethnic Studies (CRES), Women & Gender Studies, and Native American Studies include DEI-related content and fulfill key University Core requirements in areas such as Social & Behavioral Science, History, and Literature.
- Dozens of courses included in the Core focus on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in our world today.
- Communication Studies recently revamped the learning outcomes for the COMM 100 course (a first-year Core requirement) to focus on social justice. Faculty in that program have been campus leaders around DEI issues.
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New DEI-focused courses have been introduced over the past three semesters: a First-year Seminar on Intergroup Dialogue, a Core Integration Seminar also on Intergroup Dialogue, and a Core Integration Seminar on Why People Hate.
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Core Director Molly Kretchmar-Hendricks joined the DEI Committee in the College of Arts & Sciences as a member of the curriculum and course design group. She seeks additional opportunities to intentionally integrate diversity, equity and inclusion issues within the Core. An outline for this plan is in review.
Resources
- Ways Zags Can Help
- Check out multimedia suggestions
- Stay updated with 91³Ô¹ÏÍø's commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion at gonzaga.edu/diversity - and follow .
- Learn more about 91³Ô¹ÏÍø's BIAS team, reporting bias incidents, and university response to bias.
If this is an emergency or you are the victim of a crime, please contact Campus Security and Public Safety immediately at (509) 313-2222.
Recent Events
Town Hall Webinar - December 7, 2020
The event focused on students’ questions, and discussed the university’s response to the Nov. 8 hate incident and other race-related incidents, as well as ongoing work toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion. For the greatest security of students, this online event was limited to members of the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø community. A recording of this event is available here. In addition, find responses to questions submitted at the Town Hall here.