Chancellor condemns harassment

Email to the Campus Community:
April 29, 2002

As a diverse and inclusive community of learning, the University of Massachusetts Amherst does not tolerate harassment or hate-speech directed at any religious, racial, ethnic, or cultural group. In recent days, I have been disturbed by reports of anti-Semitic graffiti at several locations on campus. Like hate-speech, this graffiti is both illegal and an affront to the entire UMass community. This University will pursue action against perpetrators both through the Code of Student Conduct and Massachusetts Law.

As a University, we have a moral commitment to uphold the highest levels of civility and inclusiveness in our work, to live the values that we advocate in our Commonwealth and in our world. There is no place on our campus for threatening behavior or discourse. It is our shared responsibility to create the kind of community that enables excellence while protecting the dignity and safety of all its members.

If you have any information about this or other graffiti directed at any group or individual, please contact the Dean of Students Office or the UMass Police.

Chancellor Marcellette G. Williams