Weekend Cross-Burning Stuns Students and Staff at Williams

More than 1500 students and faculty at Williams College held a rally yesterday afternoon to protest a cross-burning which took place outside a college dormitory last Saturday.

"The response was amazing when you think we only have 1900 students," college spokesman Ray Boyer said yesterday.

Speaking at the rally, which was organized by school administrators and Black student leaders, college President John W. Chandler called the cross-burning "deeply disturbing" and "an affront to the fundamental values and commitments of Williams College."

Chris Roosenread, acting dean of the college, yesterday echoed Chandler's concern, adding that the university is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the identification of those responsible for the incident.

Many students believe the cross-burning was directed against Black students, because the incident took place next door to the building where the Black Student Union (BSU) was giving a party.

"There are a lot of ugly, unpleasant racists on campus," one senior said yesterday, adding that BSU demands for more tenured Black faculty and for an Afro-American major have caused a certain amount of tension here."

Others thought Wesleyan College students might have been responsible for the incident. "After all, it was Homecoming Weekend, and Wesleyan had just lost," said a Williams student who was near the scene of the cross-burning. He added that two sheet-clad figures he had seen running from the area had shouted "Wesleyan" as they ran.

Despite the differences over who was responsible, almost all students, both Black and white, reacted with shock and anger.

"Whether this was a prank or a more serious, racially-motivated incident, the cross-burning is an affront to all Williams students," senior Stephen Willard said yesterday.

Student government president Darrell McWherter said yesterday, "It's hard to believe this could happen--even harder to believe it could happen in an ivory tower. It would be even worse if it was a joke. No one who is Black on this campus was laughing last night."

The 2 1/2 foot cross, which had been soaked in gasoline, was set alight on the side lawn of Percy House, a dormitory. Several students reported seeing someone running from the area covered in a white sheet about 10:20 p.m., the time of the incident