Race. It has been a huge topic on college campuses this year, the latest being the alleged hate crime that took place on University at Albany's campus. Below is the first-hand account of one of the students involved.

I write this article to let UAlbany students, as well as those involved, know, you are not alone. Having a crime this hateful go ignored is not just wrong, but it can start a dangerous precedent.

My little sister was just accepted to this school and it is her top choice. The way the administration responds will be a message to students of color deciding if they will spend the next four years with this institution.

The last reports suggest that although following a recent social media uproar, the President did send out a statement to the school in response, there have been no arrests made.

In recent reports by the news, what occurred was made to seem much less brutal and vicious than it was. This was not an incident. This was a malicious hate crime and should be treated as such. They did not sustain minor injuries, these students live, eat, sleep and learn on this campus. The impact of this event will last far beyond when their concussions and injuries have passed.

Not only do these students no longer feel safe, but the response of the police and other bus passengers left them feeling unprotected. Albany police spokesman bordered on dismissive in his response of, "As far as any racial slurs that might have been said, certainly if a hate crime was committed, that's something that the Albany police would take very seriously,". His tone and delivery did not go unnoticed.

Swift, harsh action should follow this kind of violence. The attackers, I will call them what they are, should be arrested. This is the administration's chance to press charges on behalf of the students involved in a show of unwavering support and as a challenge to any form of hate crime should it ever occur again. The words of the President are supportive but without action they are empty.

This is also yet another opportunity for colleges and universities to come together as a way of demonstrating both solidarity and a stance against racial violence. By witnessing these events, we can learn from them. I have friends at these institutions and many of them love the school. But, we are watching UAlbany and other schools like it and with the rapid spread of information through social media, hopefully, no student will ever again feel alone when dealing with race on a college campus.