Important Campus-Wide Discussion
Dear University Community,
To achieve our mission as a great university we continue to strive for a productive educational environment for all students. On the evening of October 14th, in a student residence hall room, a private party was held with a theme that parodied racial stereotypes based on assumptions about economically disadvantaged members of society. The premise of this party caused substantial offense and has generated vigorous discussion among students, faculty and staff across campus. Members of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing and the Office of Minority Student Affairs have been working closely with all students involved in the incident.
The issues at stake, however, are larger than this one distressing episode and raise questions about the campus climate for minority students, faculty, and staff. The University has already begun to focus on these concerns and remains fully committed to exposing and addressing the factors that negatively affect the quality of life for some members of our community.
We have scheduled an all-University open conversation on this topic to be held on November 8th at 5:30 p.m. in Hutchinson Commons on the first floor of the Reynolds Club. Members of the administration scheduled to be in attendance include Provost Richard Saller, Deputy Provost Kenneth Warren, Vice President and Dean of Students Stephen Klass, and Deputy Dean of Students and OMSA Director Ana Vázquez. In addition, we are in the process of working with engaged faculty to launch a series of educational programs focused on these issues. We strongly encourage all members of the University community to participate in this important ongoing dialogue, one that should and must continue well beyond these types of meetings.
The University of Chicago is a community of scholars dedicated to research, academic excellence, and the pursuit and cultivation of learning. Every member of the University -- student, faculty, and staff -- makes a commitment to strive for personal, academic and professional integrity; to treat others with dignity and respect; to honor the rights and property of others; to take responsibility for individual and group behavior; and to act as a responsible citizen in a free academic community and in the larger society. We can only be successful in becoming the University we so envision if all members of our community remain dedicated to these principles.
Sincerely,
Don Michael Randel, President
Richard P. Saller, Provost
Stephen P. Klass, Vice President and Dean of Students in the University
