Monitoring
Although this situation may not be ongoing actively, the Racist & Bias Incident Response Team is working with appropriate departments to monitor and prevent future reoccurrence. Those who believe they have been the target of bias, intolerance or discrimination may report an incident to the public incident report form (bias and intolerance) or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (sexual misconduct and discrimination).
Please direct any questions or concerns in regard to this bias incident to the RBIRT Manager at RBIresponse@utah.edu.
What happened
On April 2, 3, and 10, 2024, several messages and phrases were written in chalk on sidewalks and plazas at various locations on campus. Some of these messages referenced specific individuals and sorority/fraternity groups using sexist, antisemitic, and homophobic language that may be considered harmful and offensive to members of our campus community.
What is being done
Facilities Management, Campus Security, and University Police were all notified of the chalking incidents and the messages were promptly removed from the sidewalks. Along with increased patrols of the areas, security footage is being reviewed to help identify the individual(s) responsible.
If you have any information related to these incidents, you can report by using the University’s public incident report, by calling University of Utah Police at 801-585-2677, or by filling out the silent witness form.
The University of Utah’s commitment
The University of Utah is a center of learning, with a vision that through education, we can impact our world for the better. Our foundational principles recognize our shared humanity and the dignity of all people. The university is committed to continue efforts that uplift and celebrate our campus community and enhance a sense of belonging.
What to do
If you see someone chalking or defacing University sidewalks or property, note the location and immediately notify a campus official or University Police at 801-585-2677. More information on the University of Utah’s policies regarding chalking can be found here.
Support and resources
Counseling and support services are available from various entities on campus. Visit Campus Resources | #SAFEU (utah.edu) for more information.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Ana Ascencio, RBIRT Manager, at RBIresponse@utah.edu.