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Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University Reaffirms its Commitment to be a Sanctified Zone

Dear Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå Community,

We have received two reports that violate Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University’s Sanctified Zone commitment - one in which a swastika was drawn on a car and another where a student of color was racially harassed when individuals yelled at them from a car.  These behaviors do not align with our University values, are unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.  If you have any information about these incidents, we ask that you report it to the Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University Police Department, Office of Diversity, or Dean of Students.

Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University seeks to be a place and a people united in diversity.  As a Sanctified Zone, we seek to acknowledge, value and celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our programs, classrooms, experiential learning settings, and virtual spaces:

• by hearing each person’s unique stories;
• by accepting each other as individuals and as members of communities;
• by challenging our unexamined assumptions to help us unmask personal, cultural, religious, racial, and systemic stigmatization and discrimination based on gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, and individuals with diverse abilities;
• by recognizing that prejudice, ignorance and stereotypes create and sustain privilege and preference for some while marginalizing and oppressing others;
• by educating lifelong learners who will be bridge builders and change agents in our communities, locally, nationally, and internationally by fostering a sense of belonging and by extending radical hospitality to all;
• and by becoming people who are more compassionate, welcoming, hospitable and committed to justice, healing, and peace.

The active promotion of diversity and the opposition to all forms of hate, prejudice and bias are a powerful and healing expression of our desire to be “Signs of Faith” (Signum Fidei) to our students and each other.

As a reminder, if you “See Something, Say Something.”  You can file a report with the Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University Police Department by visiting West Hall, calling 815-836-5911 (emergency number) or 815-836-5222 (non-emergency number).  In addition, you can submit an incident report online through the Dean of Students office.  You can also report bias, discrimination or harassment here.

Thank you for your work to uphold our Sanctified Zone.

Norah Collins Pienta, Ed.D.

Dean of Students/Assistant Vice President of Student Life

Shireen Roshanravan, Ph.D.

Vice President for Diversity