What started as a night of roller skating quickly turned into something worse. Joi Malone, a senior at ETSU, was rollerskating in an ETSU parking lot the night of Sept. 28 when she was approached by two white males in a car, yelling racial slurs at her. Since this has occurred, Malone has been on the hunt for justice for herself and students who have also experienced this, which she said she has yet to receive from ETSU.
Since that night, Malone took to TikTok to spread awareness about the situation, which now sits with 250,800 views and 41,900 likes. Malone has also made reports.
Campus Police have launched an investigation, but no leads have been made yet. Malone indicated she feels the ETSU police response was not quick enough. Video of the suspects’ vehicle has been posted to the campus public safety website. The post to the website site says, “Law enforcement is looking for two males in their late 20s or early 30s. Video footage of the scene does not provide a clear picture of the car. However, the individuals appear to have been driving a gray or silver late-90s-model BMW. If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to contact ETSU’s Police Department at 423-439-4480.”
Malone mentions that she has been in different meetings with administration seeking answers.
Malone has taken action with the help of YDSA, a Democratic student group at ETSU. A protest for accountability was held on Nov. 1 in the Borchuck Plaza. This protest was to hold ETSU administration and Campus Police accountable for the negligent response to student safety. Malone and YDSA have worked on a list of demands that have been acknowledged, but there has been no completion for them yet. She has received a response from President Brian Noland, but no public statement has been made.
“The University has yet to say anything about this on a public level at all. Nothing to press, nothing in an email, newsletter, nothing,” said Malone.
An ETSU official commented to the Johnson City Press in late October regarding the incident.
“Like many, we are disturbed and alarmed by the report of harassment made by one of our students. University staff members are working with the student and actively investigating the incident,” Jess Vodden, ETSU’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said via email to the Johnson City Press. “ETSU strives to be a place where people come first and are treated with dignity and respect. All members of the campus community are expected to act with civility and grace, and the university condemns bigotry and the use of derogatory language or slurs.”
“Discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated and are prohibited under both federal law and the university’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy,” Vodden said via email to the Johnson City Press.
With the events that have transpired, Malone has spoken about the issues and policies for reporting these incidents on campus. She mentions that there have been meetings in the works about this issue and two have been held — one on each of the past two Wednesdays..
“That’s very concerning because it makes you think how many other situations were reported and were just swept under the rug. It also gives a look into why students don’t report things because they do not feel like administration or the people supposed to be protecting them will want to do their job,” said Malone.
Malone is working alongside the Black Alumni Association and NAACP for more help. Malone mentions that this experience has made her more vigilant and radicalized, helping her find ways to protect herself as a Black woman in Johnson City. Malone’s fight is not over, and she says that she will not be silenced. She wants her voice to be heard and change to be made at ETSU.
“I want other Black people, people of color, at this school to feel comfortable and feel like they’re welcome and deserve to come here and get their education as much as anyone else. The biggest thing that I want after I leave or the situation is over is for students to feel they are a priority by the administration because right now, they’re not giving any indication that we are, and a lot of students feel that way,” said Malone.
