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Western New England University 'Addressing' Those Involved In Cinco De Mayo Posts

New England Public Media | By Nancy Eve Cohen
Published May 8, 2017 at 4:45 PM EDT
Western New England University in Springfield awarded 581 bachelor degrees during its commencement ceremony in 2015.
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MassLive
Western New England University in Springfield awarded 581 bachelor degrees during its commencement ceremony in 2015.

Western New England University is looking into statements allegedly posted by a member of the women's lacrosse team calling on President Trump to "build that wall."

Friday was Cinco de Mayo, May 5th, a Mexican holiday celebrating the country's victory in a battle against the French in 1862. In the U.S., it's become a celebration of Mexican American culture.

A member of the Western New England women's lacrosse team marked the holiday with two Instagram posts, showing young women gathered near a beer keg and the words "Dear Mr Trump Glad you didn't build the wall JUST YET. Happy mexican St paddy's day..."

A second post read "build that wall."

Another student, Jordon Mieko, reposted the messages with the note "Problematic racist yt ppl @ my school."

In a statement, Western New England said the university "cherishes its diversity," is reviewing the posts and "addressing the matter with those involved."
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Nancy Eve Cohen
Nancy Eve Cohen is a former NEPM senior reporter whose investigative reporting has been recognized with an Edward R. Murrow Regional Award for Hard News, along with awards for features and spot news from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA), American Women in Radio & Television and the Society of Professional Journalists.

She has reported on repatriation to Native nations, criminal justice for survivors of child sexual abuse, linguistic and digital barriers to employment, fatal police shootings and efforts to address climate change and protect the environment. She has done extensive reporting on the EPA's Superfund cleanup of the Housatonic River.

Previously, she served as an editor at NPR in Washington D.C., as well as the managing editor of the Northeast Environmental Hub, a collaboration of public radio stations in New York and New England.

Before working in radio, she produced environmental public television documentaries. As part of a camera crew, she also recorded sound for network television news with assignments in Russia, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba and in Sarajevo during the war in Bosnia.
See stories by Nancy Eve Cohen
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