Chancellor Linda Katehi's letter to the campus community: Recent acts of intolerance 'reprehensible, inexcusable'

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Statement of Mark G. Yudof, UC president, and Russell Gould, chair, UC Board of Regents:

Feb. 26

Last night a noose was found hanging from a light fixture in the Geisel Library on the University of California, San Diego, campus. This morning, we were informed by campus officials that a student has come forward and claimed she and two others were responsible. Whatever the intent of the authors of this act, it was a despicable expression of racial hatred, and we are outraged. It has no place in civilized society and it will not be tolerated—not on this particular campus, not on any University of California campus. A full investigation is under way by both campus and law enforcement officials. We support it. Appalling acts of this sort cannot go unpunished.

In the meantime, we will work in every way possible to ensure that all members of the UC San Diego community and the entire university system can learn and live in the safe and civil environment called for in the codes of conduct in place on each campus and facility. To the UCSD students and all others who have been confronted with this ugliness, and who are understandably traumatized by it, we extend both our sympathy and our pledge to root out racism whenever and wherever it arises on our campuses.

Now is the time for all members of the UC community to dig deep into their hearts and consciences and to reach out to one another with compassion and understanding. Now is the time to affirm that there is no place for any expression of racism.

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Statement of Mark G. Yudof, UC president; the chancellors of the 10 UC campuses; and the chair and vice chair of the systemwide Academic Senate:

Feb. 26

As leaders of the University of California, we are deeply disturbed by recent events at a few of our campuses. We condemn all acts of racism, intolerance and incivility. Regardless of how such offenses are rationalized, or what free speech rights they purport to express, the acts we have witnessed are unacceptable. The actions of these individuals reflect neither our principles nor our values, nor the sentiments of the University of California community. We will not allow the actions of a few to speak for this university. We denounce them.

Each of our campuses is committed to promoting and defending a learning environment that values and supports each student, faculty and staff member in an atmosphere that is open, civil, fair, caring and respectful. These values are enshrined in the “Principles of Community” each campus adheres to and that clearly outline our expectations for behavior on our campuses. We expect that all members of our university community, including our visitors, will be respectful of differing views, opinions, experiences and background.

When violations occur, it is incumbent on us, as leaders and as stewards of free speech on our campuses, to push back. We have a responsibility to speak out against activities that promote intolerance or undermine civil dialogue. As always, the remedy for bad speech is good speech. For that reason, we call on all members of the UC community—students, faculty and staff—to affirm and defend the values of the University of California. We are speaking out and ask that you do the same whenever, wherever and however you confront behavior that violates the principles and values of this university.

Mark G. Yudof, president, University of California

Henry Powell, chair, Academic Senate
Dan Simmons, vice chair, Academic Senate

Chancellors:

Robert J. Birgeneau, Berkeley
Linda P.B. Katehi, Davis
Michael V. Drake, Irvine
Gene Block, Los Angeles
Steve Kang, Merced
Timothy P. White, Riverside
Marye Anne Fox, San Diego
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, San Francisco
Henry T. Yang, Santa Barbara
George Bluemnthal, Santa Cruz