What happened

On the morning of July 26, 2023, a staff member discovered a bulletin board inside the Marriott Center for Dance building with the n-word spelled out with pins. The staff member also found the men’s restroom vandalized. All feminine hygiene products were taken out of the bins and thrown at the wall and mirrors.

What is being done

This incident has been reported to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA), the Racist and Bias Incident Response Team, and the University of Utah Police Department. U of U police were dispatched to the center and after reviewing the footage were able to identify the individuals and determined they are not students or employees of the University. If you have any information related to this incident (or others) that may help please report by filling out the Office of the Dean of Students report form. You can also report to University of Utah Police by calling 801-585-2677 or by filling out the Silent Witness Form.

The U is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion

The University strongly disagrees with and condemns the messaging these writings convey, which cause real harm and diminish a sense of belonging and safety for our campus community. We strive to create a campus community where all members find a place of safety and belonging with space to explore, express, and celebrate their identities. The University of Utah is committed to working continuously to address the harms of racism and create a community of belonging. President Taylor Randall and University Senior Leadership addressed this in a previous statement.

What to do

Be vigilant and speak up. Stopping this kind of behavior takes collective action, and bystander intervention efforts are one way of combatting conduct that can wrongfully be seen as a prank or a joke but can cause real harm. To learn more about bystander intervention please visit Center for Campus Wellness.