Black BYU Student Reports Harassment During Social Media Recording Session

By Lucia Paula , Parent Herald Sep 29, 09:37 am

Photo: (Photo : Jaël Vallée on Unsplash)

Sebastian Stewart-Johnson, a senior political science student and a prominent member of the "Black Menaces" at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, recounted a distressing incident on September 19. While conducting an on-campus interview, a university staff member confronted him, instructing immediate cessation of recording under the threat of a 911 call. The subsequent developments raised questions about campus inclusivity and student safety.

After the initial confrontation with the staff member, Stewart-Johnson alleged continuous harassment by another student, Jacob Christensen, the editor-in-chief of the unaffiliated conservative student-run newspaper, the Cougar Chronicle. Christensen reportedly followed Stewart-Johnson for 15 minutes, attempting to obstruct his recordings. The incident exacerbated Stewart-Johnson's feelings of vulnerability and frustration, especially on a campus where black students comprise a mere 1% of the 34,000 student population.

The "Black Menaces" is a group of black students at BYU aiming to spotlight the challenges encountered by people of color on the predominantly white campus. They conduct insightful on-camera interviews discussing race, faith, equity, and political topics. The group, which has amassed over 700,000 followers on TikTok, has gained national attention for initiating crucial conversations about racial inclusivity and equity at BYU, a private institution affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

University's Filming Policy and Compliance

BYU enforces a comprehensive filming and photography policy, restricting recordings intended for promotional, commercial, advocacy, or similar purposes on campus grounds. Stewart-Johnson has maintained that the content created by Black Menaces does not serve commercial interests, emphasizing that the videos are meant for personal use, shed light on pressing racial issues, and do not generate ad revenue.

The confrontation and alleged harassment had a significant distressing impact on Stewart-Johnson. Feeling unprotected and singled out, he decided to leave the campus, refraining from returning for the subsequent two days. Expressing his dissatisfaction, Stewart-Johnson highlighted the struggle of being a black student on campus and his lack of trust in the university's existing support mechanisms.

In the aftermath, BYU's media relations manager, Todd Hollingshead, communicated the limited availability of details but affirmed the university's Office of Belonging's outreach to Stewart-Johnson to understand and address his concerns.

"We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging and community for all BYU students on our campus," asserted Hollingshead. While Stewart-Johnson acknowledged the outreach and the filing of a report, he conveyed skepticism regarding the efficacy of the Office of Belonging.

Community Support and Resumption of Activities

A week later, Stewart-Johnson resumed his recording activities despite the difficult circumstances, feeling motivated by the numerous campus apologies and expressions of support. This incident serves as a catalyst for ongoing dialogue surrounding race, belonging, and the necessity of fostering community inclusivity within educational settings.

The experiences of Sebastian Stewart-Johnson underscore the urgent need for universities to actively cultivate environments of belonging, ensuring the safety, well-being, and equitable treatment of all students, irrespective of their racial or ethnic backgrounds. This incident acts as a poignant reminder for educational institutions to actively engage in rectifying racial disparities, promoting an atmosphere of mutual understanding, acceptance, and respect.

In conclusion, while Stewart-Johnson's return to his activities demonstrates resilience and determination, it also accentuates the imperative nature of fostering dialogue and implementing actionable measures to address the unique challenges faced by minority students, thus ensuring that universities remain true bastions of learning, personal growth, and inclusivity for all.