Dear Members of the Campus Community,
I am sad to inform you that on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, a racial slur was found on a community dry-erase board in Oppenheimer Hall. Among other comments on the dry erase board, this racial slur used the F-word combined with the N-word. This incident was reported to Security Services, and the slur has been erased. An investigation has begun as a Student Integrity Code violation.
Slurs and all acts of hate are not acceptable anywhere in our community. Such acts create an environment that impacts students from minoritized populations’ ability to develop a sense of belonging, study, and live in a community based on mutual respect and trust.
If you know anything about this incident, please contact Security Services at 253.879.3311. You may also report a complaint at this link: https://www.pugetsound.edu/report. If you witness anyone engaging in acts of hate, or any behavior that dehumanizes or denigrates others, tell them to stop. If the behavior continues or they ignore your intervention, report it to security services or file a complaint at the link above. Creating a healthy environment in which all members of the community can thrive is the responsibility of every member of the community.
I also would like to remind each of you that if you find yourself in need of support as a result of this or any other incident of bias, the offices in Residence Life; Counseling, Health and Wellness Services; the Chaplaincy; and our office of Institutional Equity and Diversity are here to support you.
Let’s begin this academic year working together to create an environment where everyone can be free of harassment and can pursue their personal and educational goals.
Respectfully,
Lorna Hernandez Jarvis, PhD (She, Her, Hers)
Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity