We are writing to inform you of several recent incidents of intimidation to faculty and staff, purportedly over laboratory research involving animals. The incidents include harassing phone calls and graffiti vandalism at the victims' homes. While property damage thankfully was not major, these events are deeply upsetting to the people involved and their families. We are taking appropriate steps to support them.
No claims of responsibility have been made, and police are investigating. These actions come in the wake of dangerous incidents involving researchers at other campuses, including UCLA. Last week, an incendiary device was ignited on the porch of a UCLA professor's home. Last fall, the same professor's home was flooded, causing extensive damage.
Personal attacks and other illegal actions are fundamentally inconsistent with our principles of community and cannot be tolerated. If you have any information regarding these recent incidents, please contact campus police.
