Dear Campus Community,
UC Merced is guided by our “ Principles of Community ” and the UC Board of Regents’ “ Principles Against Intolerance ,” which express the ideals that we strive to live up to. In this time of political discord and dissension, it is important that each of us work to affirm these ideals in our words and actions. That means speaking out against speech and actions that intend to demean, harass, frighten or intimidate members of our community based on the color of their skin, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender.
Over the past few weeks, some members of our community have been targeted with hateful words and symbols that have hurt them individually and that harm our community. I condemn such actions. Hate has no place on our campus.
As a public university, we must fully defend everyone’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech. However, words or actions that constitute threats against and intimidation of others due to protected characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation may be violations of University policy and, in some circumstances, may also violate laws against hate crimes.
Now is the time to find ways to come together to express our differences in respectful ways. Staff members in the Office of Campus Climate and others are working on programming for this year that includes capacity building around conflict resolution for our student body, strategies to combat hate speech while protecting First Amendment rights, and teach-ins and discussion forums on these and related issues.
I urge everyone at UC Merced to participate in at least some of these activities, and to renew our commitments to a diverse and inclusive campus community.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Leland, Chancellor
