Black Smith College Student Says Trauma is Ongoing After Police Were Contacted Because She Reportedly Looked Out of Place on Campus

Oumou Kanoute, a Smith College student, spoke to Refinery29 about her ongoing emotional trauma stemming from a July incident involving campus police.

An employee of the Massachusetts-based college reportedly called police on Kanoute, because she looked out of place as she was eating and using her iPad in a campus dining hall. As a result Kanoute, a first-generation college student from a Malian family, feels she no longer belongs on the campus, according to the article.

The campus officer immediately apologized after approaching her. The employee who called police is now on administrative leave. Smith College is investigating the incident through an independent firm. Kanoute is represented in the case by an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, according to the article.

Jamie can be reached at [email protected].