Benjamin Elliott, University Of Missouri Student, Arrested For Racist Graffiti

University of Missouri student Benjamin Elliott, 18, was temporarily suspended from the school this week following his arrest on Saturday for allegedly spray-painting racist graffiti on a campus fixture, reports the Maneater.

The offensive phrase was discovered early Saturday morning by a student who reported the find to officials, the Riverfront Times reports. According to the Kansas City Star, Elliott was arrested after campus security watched surveillance footage which implicated him in the incident. Campus police added that witnesses confirmed that it was Elliott in the video, but Elliott told police that he was drunk at the time and does not recall what happened.

Elliott has been accused of second-degree property damage, but the charge could become that of a felony hate crime. He was released on $4,500 bond.

A number of student organizations met following the incident to discuss how to best handle the event, which is the second racially-charged incident in two years. According to the Maneater, Missouri Students Association President Eric Woods wrote in a report:

The group's discussion was very positive. It was decided by the collective that a reactionary response to the incident was undesirable. Many felt that the angry nature of the outcry which occurred in response to last year's 'Cotton Ball Incident' was counter-productive in terms of addressing the real issue at hand... By showing a commitment to the values of diversity and community, the university can help reduce the power of those who carry out acts of intolerance. By promoting these values early in the academic careers of students, and keeping them present and visible throughout, all members of the Mizzou community should be more willing to embrace diversity among their peers.

Mizzou chancellor Brady Deaton told the Riverfront Times that he hopes the campus will "come together as a Mizzou family to deplore this action and to celebrate the diversity of our community."

Elliott will undergo the student conduct judicial process before receiving a final sanction.

What do you think of this story? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Comments

[lindsayatx]

12:40 PM on 02/18/2011

Why does this story have a tag of "The South"? Did I miss something? Did Missouri move?

[Disdain]

11:07 AM on 02/18/2011

A racist with dreadlocks? He needs counseling not prison.

[VerizonCells]

06:03 PM on 02/26/2011

Plenty of racists in the world with dreadlocks­, hair does not make a person...

[Rishona]

08:57 AM on 02/18/2011

LOL @ this article and this whole thread! My goodness. My father has had dreadlocks for years and I had them for about 5. Hindus in India have been locking their hair long before Rastas were even a thought. Any hair can be put into dreadlocks...just the time and the finished product differ. Anyway, it is simply a hair style. Is Bo Derek a wannabe because she sported cornrows? Stop judging people by what they look like. Not every racist shaves his head and sports swastika tattoos!

[Staxx]

04:11 AM on 02/18/2011

My grandfather used to say "Alcohol loosens the tongue".

[Corrupteddata]

11:05 PM on 02/17/2011

for those curious the Graffiti was "N I double Guh Ur Month". You should be able to sound it out.

[Omeezee]

07:48 PM on 02/17/2011

I'm African American and I think it would be awsome if colleges put in zero tolerance rules for student behavior. Something simple like "racism by students,staff, faculty, etc.. will not be tolerated. If you are found to have participated in this type of behavior you will be terminated/expelled from the college". That way he could feel free to "express a sentiment" that his ole buddy Lincutious feels.......he would just have the word "former" attached to his student status.

[MrStat1]

12:14 AM on 02/18/2011

All fine and good, but a legal definiton of "racism" or "racist conduct" would have to be established to withstand a constitutional challenge.

[Chimesmith]

03:05 PM on 02/18/2011

Once upon a time I would have agreed with you and supported such a move. More recently after moving to a southern state I find my view shifting. Zero tolerance of racially charged language and acts does not address the root of the problem. If one studies all the 'isms' of intolerant behaviour whether towards race, gender, socio economic group, nationality or hair colour you find a common base and common reinforcers. I wonder if perhaps making it more open allowing such talk and acts would bring the problem to the surface and allow society to really educate it's members to respect ALL their fellow members.
For instance:-
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p66&continuous=1

[lincutious]

07:02 PM on 02/17/2011

This guy probably would not have done this if he were not blacked out drunk at the time. He needs mandatory alchy rehab and counseling. If he completes it, he should get probation and a stay of the punishment that felony charges would incur. Breaking probation would then land him in jail.
It is not a crime to think or feel a sentiment which may be illegal to physically express.

[Omeezee]

07:51 PM on 02/17/2011

Exactly. Like if he were to get drunk and paint a swastika on your porch and maybe assualt your wife or loved one, I would personally tell him "dude don't even worry about it, your boy lincutious totally understands man. You were blacked out drunk. All you need is rehab"

[lincutious]

12:05 PM on 02/18/2011

Assault? WTF are you talking about? He made offensive graffiti, which can be removed. He did not inflict wounds or pain upon another person. What if all he really does need is rehab? Do you think jail time would help someone who may only have a substance abuse issue which would cause them to act outrageously? I think there are too many folks incarcerated in America. Since he did not commit a violent crime, he is not a danger to the public. Offer him treatment and a chance to correct his behavior; if he cannot abide by the rules of probation, then by all means lock him up.
Your sarcasm is transparent and sophomoric at best.

[davesf]

04:32 PM on 02/17/2011

A racist with dreadlocks. How messed up is that?

[funkyou2]

05:20 PM on 02/17/2011

Funny, that was my first thought too.....cosmetic dread......fashion only.

[lincutious]

07:02 PM on 02/17/2011

Come to LA, there are Latinos with swastikas here. Freaking stupid.

[KenKENTARI]

11:37 AM on 02/20/2011

What the White Latinos???

[Observer963]

01:58 PM on 02/17/2011

Looking at his picture again and considering the grafiti he made, I am wondering if this guy in fact considers himself black! I see a lot of blacks using the n* word among themselves specially stand up comedians like Chris Rock, etc.

[PhineasGage730]

06:49 PM on 02/17/2011

Not in that way...

I love when people bring that up. "But Blacks use it!"

[clearthinker2008]

09:47 AM on 02/18/2011

All blacks don't use the N word, when will some of you understand that. African Americans are not a ONE SINGLE BRAIN. All African Americas don't use that word in any form. Just in case my other comment doesn't get approved I at least want to once again, point this out.

[Observer963]

12:20 PM on 02/18/2011

What's that supposed to mean? Don't they use it? So educate me. What's the difference?

[lincutious]

12:05 PM on 02/18/2011

Are you an old white person?

[Observer963]

12:19 PM on 02/18/2011

I am not. Not even close. What is it with you people if you can't even read an opinion and not get personal?

[Son of the Morn]

01:06 PM on 02/17/2011

This clown should consider transfering to Bob Jones University.

[anti politricks]

10:46 AM on 02/17/2011

and another point on everyone's horse-style-blinders focused in on the dreadlocks....

did it occur to anyone surprised by the locks irony that maybe just maybe they are lying about what he did? if this kid has dreadlocks and is trying to "be black", why would he be spraying anti-black remarks.
maybe he was posting some other message that the media doesn't want to share?

[PhineasGage730]

06:51 PM on 02/17/2011

I know a couple White people with dreds that don't like Black people. In fact I know a few White women that like Black men...and date them...but as a whole don't like African Americans and are very r@cist.

So lets just treat the locks like the old adage: "My best friend is Black!"

[clearthinker2008]

09:48 AM on 02/18/2011

I agree with you. Locks are a hair style and doesn't remove one's ability to be racist.

[anti politricks]

10:44 AM on 02/17/2011

just to clarify, dreadlocks is NOW a CULTURALLY "black thing" but dread locks have been around for literally thousands of years amongst all cultures and skin tones.

the Hindu god Shiva had locks.
samson had locks.
jesus probably had dreadlocks.....someone so unconcerned with materials and worldly conformity wouldn't have had long hair and brushed it everyday like those pretty church paintings show.

[1jadednewyorker]

12:36 PM on 02/17/2011

We dont know how Jesus wore his hair, who probably had Arab-like hair or Hasidic Jew type hair>
for the recordJamaicans and Rastas et al have worned their hairl like this for centuries and it not as you insinuate a newly Black cultrual thing.

[anti politricks]

12:48 PM on 02/17/2011

jamaica has only been around for a few centuries (discovered in 1492) and rastas have been dreading for less than a century as it is:
"Generally said to be started November 2, 1930, the year Emperor Hailie Selassie I (1892-1975) was crowned, but based in a movement of the 1920s. "
i agree that rastas made the trend popular, especially bob marley. i have nothing against this, shoots, the father of my child is a rasta with dreads half down his back.
my point is simply that dreads have a lot of meaning.
and nowadays, popularity amongst black americans with dreadlocks creates an association of dreads to being black more than the real meaning behind dreads.

oh and jesus was a nazarite. just like samson, and part of their vows are to never let a razor touch their head (implying dreads), never been around a dead body (i.e. funeral), etc etc.

[1jadednewyorker]

10:23 AM on 02/17/2011

Hear me! Jah dont like your actions. Dere is no truth but de one truth, an' that is the truth is of Jah Rastafari.

Get your soul right brother.

[cragusa]

06:16 AM on 02/17/2011

Racist graffiti against blacks while covered in dreadlocks... He should have to give back the Bob Marley and Spearhead CDs.

[AGooglyMinotaur]

10:13 AM on 02/17/2011

That was my very first thought. The South's backwards social attitudes have a strong element of the absurd.

[time2impeach]

10:27 AM on 02/17/2011

Cute kid, huh? One wonders if the irony eludes him...

[Bobbi2664]

02:43 AM on 02/17/2011

Well for someone that has issues with Black History Month.he sure is trying his dammedest trying to be black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[funcrusherplus]

05:00 AM on 02/17/2011

I'm not really sure what your comment means, but you sure do like exclamation points.

[AGooglyMinotaur]

10:13 AM on 02/17/2011

Yes he does!!!!!!!!1111one

[time2impeach]

10:27 AM on 02/17/2011

Take a look at his hair in the mug shot...

[clearthinker2008]

09:53 AM on 02/18/2011

How is he trying to be black, and what does trying to be black even mean? A hairstyle? So if I do a crop hair cut am I trying to be military?