Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi issued the following statement today (March 25):

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Dear Campus Community,

I am writing to let you know that the university is investigating the discovery of racist and anti-Semitic fliers received today on several networked campus printers. Similar fliers reportedly have been sent to printers at other UC campuses and universities nationwide. We are working to identify the source, but preliminary information has linked the Web address to an entity listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks the activities of such groups. 

This matter is being investigated by the UC Davis Police Department and campus IT officials. If any member of the campus community receives the flier, please notify IT Express immediately by writing to ithelp@ucdavis.edu and include the name of your office, building, type of device affected, the IP address — if you know it—and the telephone number of an office contact person. 

Our university takes very seriously incidents that are intimidating, threatening or hostile to any member of the UC Davis community, as illustrated by the Principles Against Intolerance approved just one day ago by the UC Board of Regents. The principles are a powerful affirmation of the UC’s commitment to academic freedom and free speech and an equally powerful declaration that intolerance and hate have no place on our campuses.  

We condemn this latest affront to our community in the strongest terms possible. As we are all painfully aware, bigotry and hate are plagues experienced around the world. As Friday’s incident reminds us, we must be ever vigilant in striving for a society where everyone feels safe and welcome. I deeply regret that anyone was exposed to such ugliness, and pledge to you that we will work with our peer institutions and authorities on campus and off to determine its origins and take appropriate actions.  

Sincerely,

Linda P.B. Katehi
Chancellor