Dear campus community members:

Less than two months ago, leaders from the city of Davis, the Davis School District and UC Davis publicly reaffirmed our commitment to the Principles of Community. We asked the community to join with us to confront all manifestations of discrimination and intolerance, and to work with us to provide a safe, welcoming environment that promotes freedom of expression, appreciates our differences and understands the value of diversity.

Today, we stand together in condemning the recent hate crime (theft of the Hillel House Israeli Flag and the threatening note) committed in our community. We are grateful for the thorough investigation of the Davis Police Department that led to the arrest of the alleged perpetrator of this crime. However, we are deeply disappointed to learn the individual charged with this crime is a member of our campus community and a resident of the city of Davis.

We understand that current domestic issues and international events are certain to generate emotional discussions and debates on a wide range of controversial topics. We welcome and encourage the reasoned exchange of thoughts, opinions and different perspectives.

We are all enriched by discussions of this nature when they are conducted in a civil and respectful manner. However, we want to reassure all members of our campus and the Davis community that we will not tolerate acts designed to intimidate, discriminate or silence the individual right of freedom of expression. We once again ask all members of the campus and Davis community to join us in this effort.

-- Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and Davis Mayor Ruth Uy Asmundson