Dear campus community,
This morning, the UC Board of Regents approved the “Principles Against Intolerance,” which affirm the UC’s allegiance to academic freedom and free speech but also strongly affirm that intolerance and hate have no place in the University of California. I applaud this statement and urge you to read it.
Unfortunately, at around the same time, a hateful, white supremacist, anti-Semitic message appeared on network printers on our campus and other UC campuses. The perpetrators, who appear to be from another country, used UC Merced’s networked printers to print their fliers. I do not know if anyone on campus actually saw these fliers, but if you did, I am truly sorry. No one deserves to be subjected to this kind of rhetoric, and it angers me that outside forces have tried to introduce their hate into our campus community.
I want to reiterate my personal commitment to supporting the UC Merced Principles of Community, including affirming the inherent dignity and value of every member of our community, and cultivating a campus climate rooted in mutual respect and compassion. I encourage you to speak out against and denounce all forms of hate that threaten the safety, dignity and well-being of members of this community.
I also strongly encourage you to report acts of intolerance and hate crimes. You may report these to a supervisor, to Human Resources or to any UC Merced leader, or you may report them anonymously using our systemwide intolerance report system.
However you choose to take a stand, I hope you will. I promise to stand with you.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Leland
