Email sent to students, faculty and staff by President Dave McFadden about offensive comment scribbled on poster

Community members, 

Manchester University is committed to being a place where everyone is comfortable to be who they are. We learn from our differences and, true to our mission statement, respect the infinite worth of every individual.

But we are not where we need to be.

A hateful and offensive comment was scribbled on a poster advertising a discussion about discrimination and stereotypes that will take place in East Hall tonight. Such comments have no place in our community and will not be tolerated. It was aimed specifically at our African-American friends, classmates and teammates. They deserve better. We all deserve better. 

The poster has been removed, but the racist comment illustrates how important it is for us to have such discussions. 

In that spirit, the planned discussion, “Not All Black and White,” will proceed from 9:30 to 10 tonight in the East Hall Lobby. Following that meeting, we plan an open forum in the East lobby for anyone in the University community who wishes to discuss this incident and appropriate responses to it. 

In the meantime, if you have any information about this incident, please contact University Safety at ext. 5999. As a reminder, our web page, Report It!, is also available for reporting any messages or actions that violate the University’s mission and guidelines.  

We are a community that welcomes differences, but that welcome has boundaries. Hate speech, verbal violence and anonymous attacks will not be tolerated at Manchester. 

Thank you,

Dave

Dave McFadden
President
Manchester University
604 E. College Avenue
North Manchester, IN 46962

November 5, 2015