UC leaders, all the chancellors and Academic Senate chair and vice chair condemn recent incidents

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Dear Campus Community Members:

Many of you are already aware of a series of distressing acts that have taken place on our campus and throughout the UC system in recent weeks, behavior that in at least one instance is likely criminal and in all cases reprehensible, inexcusable and an affront to our own campus’s Principles of Community.

Earlier this week, UC Davis campus police reported that one of our Jewish students found a swastika carved into the door of her residence hall room, an act of thoughtless vandalism that is being investigated as a hate crime.

Negative stereotyping

Last week, members of the University of California community were distressed to learn that members of UC San Diego’s Greek fraternal community had allegedly organized an event called the “Compton Cookout.” The invitations to this event encouraged participants to mock Black History Month by promoting negative and offensive racial and gender stereotypes.

And a couple of weeks ago at UC Irvine, a small group of students attempted to disrupt and shout down the Israeli Ambassador to the United States as he made remarks at a speaking event.

This sort of behavior cannot and should not be tolerated, on our campus or anywhere else. It should be condemned by all members of our campus and university community. We cannot ignore deliberate acts that demean and threaten others based on race, ethnicity, gender, national origin or any personal characteristics.

Balancing rights, civility

When we see and hear such abhorrent language and behavior that is connected to current or historical acts of violence, hatred or abuse, our sense of community and shared respect is damaged.

It’s hard to feel welcome or safe in a community where such language and behavior is considered acceptable or tolerated.

Building an academic community requires a careful balance of the rights and needs of many that are sometimes in conflict. But acts of free speech or freedom of expression are not protected when they prohibit or suppress the speech of others. Our campuses are special places for the pursuit of knowledge and exchange of ideas, views and differing opinions.

It is critical that all members of our campus community conduct themselves with civility and respect for the dignity inherent in every member of our community.

Principles of Community

Our Principles of Community (principles.ucdavis.edu) require each of us to recognize the obligation we have to our community to maintain a campus environment of civility and respect in which every student, faculty staff and group can thrive.

We will begin our annual weeklong celebration of our Principles of Community next week (March 1-4). Today’s issue of Dateline has an article on the 20th anniversary celebration of the principles as well as a new online training tool to help us live by these time-tested principles.

I invite you to participate in the various activities and events designed to promote diversity, foster an appreciation for differences and build a more inclusive campus community.

Sincerely,

Linda P.B. Katehi
Chancellor