Last night a noose was found hanging from a light fixture in the Geisel Library on the University of California, San Diego campus. This morning, we were informed by campus officials that a student has come forward and claimed she and two others were responsible. Whatever the intent of the authors of this act, it was a despicable expression of racial hatred, and we are outraged. It has no place in civilized society and it will not be tolerated - not on this particular campus, not on any University of California campus. A full investigation is underway by both campus and law enforcement officials. We support it. Appalling acts of this sort cannot go unpunished.
In the meantime, we will work in every way possible to ensure that all members of the UC San Diego community and the entire University system can learn and live in the safe and civil environment called for in the codes of conduct in place on each campus and facility. To the UCSD students and all others who have been confronted with this ugliness, and who are understandably traumatized by it, we extend both our sympathy and our pledge to root out racism whenever and wherever it arises on our campuses.
Now is the time for all members of the UC community to dig deep into their hearts and consciences and to reach out to one another with compassion and understanding. Now is the time to affirm that there is no place for any expression of racism.
