University of Iowa to respond to students' Twitter campaign

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa officials are still grappling with the aftermath of a promotional social media campaign co-opted by students.

The Twitter-based campaign aimed to showcase what the Hawkeye community loves about the University of Iowa, utilizing the tag #iloveUIowa. Early on, most responses lauded the sense of family and community found on campus.

But on a Monday night in late February, a growing number of students responded to the #iloveUIowa campaign with their own #DoesUIowaLoveMe campaign. These tweets tended to focus on times students felt they were discriminated against or felt alienated on the Iowa City campus. Concerns ranged from students holding anti-immigrant signs on campus to allegations of mishandled sexual assault reports to a professor who is said to have allowed Vietnamese people to be referred to as a racial slur.

One by one, University of Iowa officials have made their way through these tweets in a series of long meetings, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported.

"The students sharing their concerns, and quite frankly some of the painful experiences that they had, was absolutely difficult to hear," said Melissa Shivers, vice president for Student Life.

Shivers said Student Life staff met with some students behind the campaign on Feb. 27, two days after the tweets started rolling in. That evening, 60-70 faculty and staff started making their way through #DoesUIowaLoveMe tweets. They met again recently.

Shivers said the group planned to meet before Spring Break starts on March 17 to identify appropriate responses. Student Life officials will also meet with students involved in the campaign before the end of the month.

Administrators, including Shivers, were also present when more than 100 crowded unto the T. Anne Cleary walkway...