We are deeply saddened and disappointed to hear about multiple instances of racist and offensive disruptions to class sessions held via Zoom. This behavior causes real harm and is not tolerated on our campus. Proliferating hate speech in online instructional spaces is not a prank or a joke and our campus is taking these actions very seriously. We ask you all to take them seriously as well and never share Zoom or other video conferencing links in any public forum.
These incidents, as well as recent racist posts on social media, are an attempt to divide our campus community and undermine our Principles of Community. We must come together—against racism, sexism, xenophobia, and white supremacy—and collectively denounce all forms of hate, bias, and discrimination.
While this behavior is never acceptable, it comes at a time when our community members are already burdened with concerns for loved ones, for our first responders and medical community, and for the many people currently battling COVID-19. Some have used this pandemic as an opportunity to incite xenophobia and hatred, particularly against Asian and Asian American people. Any attempt to blame COVID-19 on any group is discriminatory and unacceptable. We condemn any effort to turn this crisis into a vehicle to spread hate.
We are sorry that anyone has experienced these discriminatory disruptions, and we thank you for continuing to support our community of learning. As we continue spring quarter remotely, we must do everything we can to keep our digital classroom environments safe and inclusive. Our Keep Teaching website offers instructions on how to create secure Zoom class meetings and prevent uninvited people from joining.
If ZoomBombing occurs in your class:
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Please open a ticket at help@ucsc.edu with the subject line “ZoomBombing in XXX [your course—ie, LIT 101]. Include information such as Meeting ID, CruzID of host, time of incident, did they use screen sharing, etc.
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Students and faculty should refer to https://reporthate.ucsc.edu/ for hate/bias related incidents/comments during zoom classes.
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To file a formal complaint about harassment and/or discrimination on the basis of a protected identity, students, staff, and faculty can make a report on-line using the reporting form on the Equity and Equal Protection homepage. To report an incident of sexual violence or sexual harassment contact the Title IX Office.
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The Dean of Students Office and the Conduct and Community Standards Office are committed to working with our academic partners to make our online learning environment more secure, safe, and conducive to learning. For general inquiries regarding classroom disruption and the Conduct process please email conduct@ucsc.edu. Reports of classroom disruption not falling into the previous categories can be submitted for review by conduct staff at https://ucsc-advocate.
symplicity.com/public_report/ index.php/pid858162.
Information for students
If your instructor has added Zoom to Canvas, the best way to join Zoom is through Canvas. If not, make sure you sign into your UCSC account at ucsc.zoom.us before you enter a meeting. If you're unable to enter a meeting, it's likely because you aren't signed into your UCSC Zoom account.
If you're on a computer and are unable to sign into a Zoom meeting:
Sign into your UCSC Zoom account at ucsc.zoom.us and then try to enter the meeting again.
If you're on a phone or tablet and are unable to sign into a Zoom meeting:
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You may see "This meeting is for authorized attendees only."
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Click "Sign in."
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Choose "SSO."
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Type "ucsc" in the "company domain" line.
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Sign in with your UCSC username and password. (Note that you may have to use multi-factor authentication)