Chancellor's e-mail to the students
Issue date: 4/28/10 Section: Opinion
TO: the members of the UMD Community
FROM: Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin
Last week a despicable incident occurred on Facebook. The disgraceful incident involved two UMD students who displayed disrespectful, outrageous language and behavior directed at a UMD student of color.
The depth of pain that these comments has produced is immeasurable and unconscionable.
I want to assure the UMD community that UMD has a zero tolerance for such vicious language and disrespectful behavior. While free speech is a right, that right comes with accountability for responsible and civil conduct. The UMD Student Behavior Code has clear standards governing free speech and behavior on campus.
Immediately upon learning of the incident, the process for a full investigation was begun by the Office of Equal Opportunity. The recommendations of that investigation will be made to the Director of Student Conduct together with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Support and Student Life. This process is continuing.
UMD is committed to a standard requiring that all members of the campus are treated with dignity and respect; that no one should ever feel threatened or concerned, unsafe or unwelcome. Diversity and differences should be celebrated as an important ingredient in our educational community.
I hope that the entire campus will engage in a process of restorative healing, in a sustained effort to grow and learn from this terrible incident. We are deeply sorry for the pain and anguish suffered by the victim of this egregious action.
To be successful as a campus, we must all be individually engaged in the process of working toward increased civility, conscious of the impact of our words and actions. I thank you for your concern and commitment.
FROM: Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin
Last week a despicable incident occurred on Facebook. The disgraceful incident involved two UMD students who displayed disrespectful, outrageous language and behavior directed at a UMD student of color.
The depth of pain that these comments has produced is immeasurable and unconscionable.
I want to assure the UMD community that UMD has a zero tolerance for such vicious language and disrespectful behavior. While free speech is a right, that right comes with accountability for responsible and civil conduct. The UMD Student Behavior Code has clear standards governing free speech and behavior on campus.
Immediately upon learning of the incident, the process for a full investigation was begun by the Office of Equal Opportunity. The recommendations of that investigation will be made to the Director of Student Conduct together with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Support and Student Life. This process is continuing.
UMD is committed to a standard requiring that all members of the campus are treated with dignity and respect; that no one should ever feel threatened or concerned, unsafe or unwelcome. Diversity and differences should be celebrated as an important ingredient in our educational community.
I hope that the entire campus will engage in a process of restorative healing, in a sustained effort to grow and learn from this terrible incident. We are deeply sorry for the pain and anguish suffered by the victim of this egregious action.
To be successful as a campus, we must all be individually engaged in the process of working toward increased civility, conscious of the impact of our words and actions. I thank you for your concern and commitment.
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