The University of Maryland has changed the name of a counseling group aimed at helping white students discuss and learn about race after students raised concerns.
Flyers with the emboldened words "White Awake" were used to promote a safe space for white students. Several questions were listed on the flyer asking whether or not students could connect with people of different cultures.
"Do you feel uncomfortable or confused before, during or after interactions with racial and ethnic minorities?" one of the ridiculous questions asked.
As of Thursday, the UMD’s Counseling Center announced the flyers would no longer be used.
A group at the Counseling Center is billing itself as a “safe space for White students” to discuss race. UMD students — do you have thoughts on this? If so, shoot me a DM! pic.twitter.com/ewpUmd3bea
— Jillian Atelsek (@jillian_atelsek) September 12, 2018
According to WUSA 9 News, the counseling center changed the name of the group from "White Awake" to "Anti-Racism and Ally Building Group" online.
In addition to the name change, the center released a statement expressing its intentions with the program.
"[The] purpose of the group is to promote anti-racism and become a better ally,” the statement read. “This is an incredibly difficult, nuanced issue and that’s the reason we need to discuss it.”
Response to anti-racism group flyer pic.twitter.com/KMwQenpgG0
— UM Counseling Center (@UMCounselingCTR) September 13, 2018
There have been many racial incidents that have rocked the university in the past. Most notably, a former student stabbed a black man for not moving out of the way in has been deemed a hate crime.
Nearly a year ago, twenty-two-year-old student Sean Christopher Urbanski was charged with first- and second-degree murder as well as first-degree assault for killing 23-year-old Bowie State University student Richard Collins III.
Students have expressed outrage over the university's inability to ban symbols of hate on campus, according to Campus Reform.
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