Letter: Badgers, we need your help

The following letter was sent on March 11 via email to all students.

Badgers, we need your help

We have written several messages about this topic in the past. Today, we will be as simple and direct as we can be.

On Wednesday, there was another incident of bias on our campus. During a sacred Native American healing ceremony recognizing sexual assault survivors, individuals disrupted the event with stereotypical “war chants.” We are trying to identify those involved and will engage in an educational response and seek disciplinary action, if appropriate.

We are better than this.

This is the latest in a string of incidents, like swastikas in Sellery Hall, that have deeply hurt students, but also caused damage to our community as a whole.

At Wisconsin, we value our diversity, in all of its forms, and are trying to create a safe and inclusive community for everyone.

We are addressing hate, bias and diversity at the campus level, but we can not do it without students, faculty and staff joining together to stand up for all of our diverse communities.

We each have the ability to positively shape our classrooms, residence halls, offices, and social circles. We challenge and encourage every member of our community to do three things:

—Treat all community members with respect and civility. These incidents are not “funny” and have real impact on the lives of our students.
—Look out for one another. If you see an act of hate or bias, interrupt and intervene on behalf of other members of our community.

—Report acts of hate and bias at go.wisc.edu/reporthateandbias. We promise to investigate and respond.

Sincerely,

Lori Berquam
Vice Provost and Dean of Students

Jeff Novak
Director, University Housing

Patrick Sims
Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer