University Police are actively investigating two incidents of “bias and hate” after the department was notified of anti-Semitic messages in an elevator and a noose found on the campus, according to an email university President Wallace Loh sent yesterday.
In one incident, an elevator of an academic building was “vandalized with anti-Semitic messages,” and in the other, a Facilities Management supervisor found a noose in a space being renovated, according to Loh’s email. Since both incidents are currently under investigation, police declined to release specific information regarding the incidents, including the dates the department was notified.
“It’s intolerable and it’s important that we try and get to the bottom of it,” University Police Lt. Robert Mueck said. “In this day and age, we can’t afford to let these things go.”
Loh said he felt compelled to send an email to the university community because the issue is something he feels “very strongly about.”
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values for us, and any hate or bias incidents threaten all of us,” Loh said through a spokesman yesterday. “I’m pleased that the number of incidents have decreased dramatically over the past few years, but we still have work to do. And the only way to overcome intolerance is by working together, starting a campuswide dialogue and addressing these issues head-on.”
Although police are looking for suspects in the case, Chief Diversity Officer Kumea Shorter-Gooden said there are no immediate plans to deal with the incidents.
“Loh’s email is a really important first step, which is to publicly acknowledge that we experienced these biased and hateful incidents, bring attention to the community and reaffirm our commitment to maintaining a community that is free of bias and hate,” Shorter-Gooden said.
Shorter-Gooden added these hate and bias crimes will allow her department and the university as a whole to learn how to create a more tolerable environment.
While hate and bias incidents have declined 85 percent over the last nine years – from 33 incidents in 2003 to five in 2011, according to Loh’s email – Shorter-Gooden said there is still room for improvement.
“We can turn this into a teachable opportunity,” she said. “The incidents are angering and saddening and disturbing, and yet they allow us to hold a mirror up to ourselves and determine that there’s much more work to be done to create a better community.”
“We’re not at a point of no bias, otherwise these incidents wouldn’t have happened,” Shorter-Gooden added.
Police have not received any additional reports of hate and bias crimes in response to Loh’s email, Mueck said, but could receive more as time goes on.
“This is still fresh, so there’s a very good chance that we could get more of this later,” Mueck said.
Shorter-Gooden said cultivating a diverse and accepting environment is written into the university’s 2010 Diversity Strategic Plan, which she hopes helps the university move forward from these incidents and continue balancing diversity among students, faculty and staff.
“The long-term response is to move forward in implementing that plan so we can create the community we’re committed to,” she said. “There’s no long-term plan to deal with these particular incidents, but there’s a long-term plan to deal with the climate of this university. We need to make sure that we’re really addressing the broader culture that allows these things to bubble up.”
Shorter-Gooden added that she welcomes ideas from students and student groups for how to verbally address these specific incidents.
“It might be useful to have a forum or a teach-in to discuss hate and bias,” she said. “It’s always helpful to talk about it and hear what everyone has to say.”
egan@umdbk.com
