Dear fellow students, faculty, and staff:
We, as a group of diverse and active students, would like to address the recent disturbing incidents that have taken place not only on our campus and in the surrounding community, but throughout our nation.
In the last few weeks, there have been several known instances of white supremacist propaganda appearing on our campus. The most jarring include Nazi imagery and a homophobic slur that seek to isolate and alienate people from our community. Here at the University of Mary Washington, we want our fellow students to know that we condemn such acts of terror. Hate speech goes against our community’s core values and will not be tolerated on our campus.
History has taught us the dangers of this propaganda, and the memory of such horrors guides us to fight against these harmful ideas and to push back against actions that target members of marginalized groups and identities. We want students, no matter their affiliation, to know that their peers here at Mary Washington will voice their strong views against such heinous acts.
Students in Madison Hall and others who feel concern for their safety and well-being on campus should know that they have our continued support in the fight for justice, and are valued members of our community. We hear your frustration, and we are working alongside our administration to promote a more open dialogue about our campus climate and the needs of our students.
If anyone on campus witnesses discriminatory behavior, actions, or publications, there are many resources available for reporting them. Please do not sit idly by while injustice occurs; the only way to dispel these harmful ideas is to actively acknowledge and challenge them. Document and report them to the University by filing a bias incident report (see link at bottom).
In addition, please utilize resources on campus that work to promote safety and diversity, such as the James Farmer Multicultural Center, Talley Center, Title IX office, and the UMW police. If possible, download the Rave Guardian safety app on your mobile device to help stay safe on and off campus.
This is our UMW. Our community is built from our differences and with our differences. We are built on respect for each other, for faculty, and for staff. We construct the ideals of our campus community on the pillars of our morality and our intellect. We are here to learn, not just from the classroom, but from each other. Together, we are one UMW. Together, we are UMW United. In Solidarity,
Women of Color
Islamic Student Association
Young Democrats
College Republicans
People for the Rights of Individuals of Gender and Sexual Minorities
Judicial Review Board
Student Government Association
Campus Programming Board
Environmental Action Coalition
Diversity and Unity Coordinating Committee
Geek Alliance
Association of Computing Machinery
Classics Club
Japanese Animation and Dramatic Entertainment
League of Legends Collegiate Club
Pokemon Club
UMW Competitive Super Smash Bros. Club
Tabletop Game Club
UMW Whovians
Video Game Club
Western Animation Club
No Labels
InterClub Association
Class Council
Arab Culture Club
Asian Student Association
UMW Breakers
Eagle Bhangra
Association of Residence Halls
UMW Middle Eastern Dance Club
#UMWUnited
For filing a bias incident report: http://www.umw.edu/concerns/
