What happened

On August 29, 2023, a staff member discovered a message spelled out in rocks around a fireplace near the entrance of Kahlert Village that read “You’re gay c***.”

What is being done

The incident has been reported to the Racist and Bias Incident Response Team and the University of Utah Police.

If you have any information related to this incident (or others) that may be helpful, please report it by filling out this form from the Office of the Dean of Students. Or you can report to the University of Utah Police by calling 801-585-2677 or filling out the Silent Witness form.

If through the course of some review or investigation (by University Police or other appropriate investigative body), the individual(s) responsible is identified, the Office of the Dean of Students (if confirmed to be a student), Human Resources (if confirmed to be an employee), or other appropriate leader, will act within university policy designed to hold the individual(s) accountable and, if appropriate, provide additional education about the harm caused to the community by this type of behavior.

The U is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion

The University strives to create a welcoming and safe environment for all campus community members.  Acts like this, done to diminish or demean people attempting to live as their authentic selves, cause harm to our LGBTQ+ students and other community members’ sense of belonging.  We continue to work and ensure all of our staff, students, and faculty can find a place of safety and belonging as a part of our campus community and have the space to explore, express, and celebrate their various identities.

What to do

Be vigilant and speak up. If you see someone defacing residential areas, residency halls, or other university property, note the location and notify a campus official. Stopping this type of behavior takes collective action, and bystander intervention efforts are one way of combating conduct that can wrongfully be seen as a prank or joke but can cause real harm. To learn more about incorporating bystander intervention into your toolkit, visit the Center for Campus Wellness.