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Michigan Tech students, faculty, staff, and their families show their support. LETTER FROM PRESIDENT GLENN MROZ TO MICHIGAN TECH STUDENTS I feel it is important to communicate this to you. Last night, an individual or individuals chalked derogatory and hateful anti-gay remarks on our campus. These actions are inappropriate and harmful to members of our community and will not be tolerated. Our policies clearly state that communication intending to harm or threaten another person is not permitted. A full investigation of this incident is being undertaken by Public Safety. If you have any information, I urge you to call 487-2216. Incidents such as this cause both fear and discomfort on campus and are completely unacceptable. A campus community is one where freedom of speech and thought should be embraced and encouraged. However, there are limits to what is appropriate, and these individuals definitely crossed the line. The University is fully committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive community. We will continue to do all we can to address these issues; help is available for students and others from Counseling Services at 487-2538. Students are also encouraged to discuss this with any of the Safe Place allies on campus. Information about Safe Place can be found at http://www.safeplace.mtu.edu. Regrettably, issues like this happen on college campuses. It is unfortunate they arise, but I am committed to reassuring our students that Michigan Tech is a safe and supportive community.
We all are different. We come to Michigan Tech from different countries, different parts of the U.S., different cultures, and different upbringings. We enjoy different music, food and entertainment, and we study different subjects. Black, white, gay, straight, young and old; we all came to this place at this time. And while we are in this place, we are not required to attend “x” number of cultural events, embrace every religion or develop a master plan for improving race relations, though it would be perfectly fine if each of us did. We are required to do but one thing: be tolerant and respectful of one another. At some point before Friday morning, someone or some group of people decided to break this simple rule by chalking death threats on our sidewalks. At this point, not much is known about who did this or why they chose to disobey the smallest of guidelines for human decency. Maybe the aggressors were students and maybe they were not. Regardless of who or why, the message that needs to be sent is clear. As the leaders of the overarching representative student governments on campus, we feel justified in providing a word of notice: To those who defiled our sidewalks Friday morning with their hateful words, and to any others that have intentions of threatening or persecuting students: You are not welcome here. If you cannot set aside your differences with others enough to allow them to peaceably live their lives, then you have no place at Michigan Tech. Dan Adler / Phil Ribeiro |
