Chancellor Christ condemns hate messages

UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ sent this message today to the campus community:

Dear students, staff and faculty,

I am deeply distressed to learn of some hateful messaging that has appeared on campus recently that targets specific student populations, groups of faculty and administrators. I condemn these cowardly acts in the strongest possible terms. Our police department is investigating whether they constitute hate crimes, and we will do all we can to support those affected. Please visit our Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination or UCPD if you have information about recent incidents or would like to make a complaint.

I want to make sure everyone is aware of services available on campus if you are in any way affected by these incidents. Students can find tailored support services online. Faculty and staff can also find their respective support services online.

I urge you to read and understand our carefully crafted Principles of Community and trust that they will be a valuable guide to how we should treat our fellow community members:

• We place honesty and integrity in our teaching, learning, research and administration at the highest level.
• We recognize the intrinsic relationship between diversity and excellence in all our endeavors.
• We affirm the dignity of all individuals and strive to uphold a just community in which discrimination and hate are not tolerated.
• We are committed to ensuring freedom of expression and dialogue that elicits the full spectrum of views held by our varied communities.
• We respect the differences as well as the commonalities that bring us together and call for civility and respect in our personal interactions.
• We believe that active participation and leadership in addressing the most pressing issues facing our local and global communities are central to our educational mission.
• We embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our obligation and goal.

Berkeley is better than what these incidents reflect. Many things contribute to the fact that we are the nation’s number one public university, and a strong component is the care, respect and esteem which we have for our fellow campus community members. As we move into the events of next week, please join me in upholding these values.

Sincerely,

Carol Christ, chancellor