While we were focused on goings-on at U of L’s Belknap campus, we noticed a compelling editorial published in The Cardinal this week addressing that racially-charged stabbing that took place a few weeks back.

The case, which has resulted in police charges against three individuals, is generating plenty of talk about race and hate crimes, and the school paper is calling out the administration for its lack of action. The editorial asks if there are racial tensions on campus, and answers with evidence that there is.

Here’s a highlight:

But look at the facts of the case: a student stabbed someone, with a knife, on campus.  It’s astonishing that there is only an investigation to determine campus discipline.  At U of L, you are more likely to be expelled for asinine MySpace postings than for taking a knife to someone, and putting them in the hospital.

It is clear that there is a vast chasm between reality and the administration’s ideals.  Statistics showing zero hate crimes does not speak to the safety of the campus, but only the inaccuracies of the numbers.

Race is playing a role in this case, if only because the administration is fueling it.  While this may have been a simple robbery, the entire university now knows the races of the involved parties.

Cute little yellow signs and “hatelines” will not change the minds of U of L students.  The university should act swiftly against students who commit violent crimes, and show that violence will not be tolerated, no matter the race of the victims.