This article was originally written for the sixth issue in the Advent 2025 semester of The Sewanee Purple and has been reproduced digitally.
Ginna Allen
News Editor
A total of seven objects displaying Confederate symbols have been reported on campus this September and October. Consequently, members of the Sewanee community have expressed concerns with the underlying implications of these objects. In particular, many have pointed directly to concerns with a rise in discrimination and prejudice on campus in tandem with these reported objects.
A Sewanee student who stumbled upon two Confederate objects during a class activity described their experience when speaking with The Sewanee Purple: “It was weird. From what I remember, there were two objects. Both trees had crosses hung on them. There was also a vial of some sort of sand-like substance, and there were creepy photos of confederate figures.”
The student said that the objects were reported to the Sewanee Police Department and that they saw police cars at the scene as class was dismissed; however, they never heard any further updates. Images of one of the objects described by the student were then anonymously posted on Yik Yak under the caption, “Since Sewanee won’t leak the photos, I will!”
When reflecting on the situation, the student noted, “I just think it’s weird that all of this with the objects is going on along with that truck of people who yelled slurs. It just feels like there’s a rise in racial prejudice on campus on top of the DEI office getting rebranded and a rise in discrimination against international students.”
The student’s mention of a “truck of people who yelled slurs” is referencing a reported incident on campus in early November in which an “unknown person yelled racial slurs from a vehicle,” according to a “timely warning” alert from the Sewanee Police Department. There have been other reports of international students experiencing racist harassment. In combination with the enigma of the discovered objects, these reports have led to unease and heightened anxiety across campus.
On November 5, Vice Chancellor Rob Pearigen released a statement titled “Maintaining a Safe and Welcoming Campus for All” in which he addressed these concerns. He described his conversations with “students, faculty, and staff of color” where he heard expressions of “concern, anxiety, and even fear for safety related to anonymous acts on campus, including the previously reported placement of objects displaying Confederate symbols.” He then emphasized Sewanee’s non-discrimination policies, saying, “behavior at odds with our non-discrimination policies is not acceptable” and that Sewanee is “committed to a safe and hospitable experience for all. Mutual respect and civility are imperative, and we expect all members of our community to treat one another with care and dignity.”
Please note the following links to policies, procedures, and support systems for matters related to non-discrimination, equality, equity, and opportunity. You can access the University’s non-discrimination policy here. If you have questions about the policy or would like to file a complaint, please visit the University’s EEO website. Students who would like support can contact our CARE team. Faculty and staff can access the employee assistance program (EAP).