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 Monday, August 14th, 2023, a student reported graffiti on the George S. Eccles Legacy Bridge walkway. The graffiti on the pathway bore the words “kidnappers, liars, and r-words,” with an arrow pointing towards the edge.
What is being done
The incident was reported to the Racist and Bias Incident Response Team and the University of Utah Police Department. Facilities Management has removed the graffiti.
The U is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Utah is committed to fostering a welcoming environment and continuing efforts of accessibility and support for students with disabilities on campus. We are committed to creating an equitable campus where we work together to engage, support, and advance a living, learning, and working environment that fosters values of diversity, inclusivity, and academic excellence.
The use of the R-word is a dehumanizing slur used against those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It creates an environment of alienation and exclusion. The Special Olympics launched a campaign in 2009 to end the use of the R-word; more information can be found here.
Additionally, we are committed to the overall well-being of our campus community including mental health. The messages above can be activating and harmful to those in our campus community. There is a wide range of mental health resources on campus from counseling, support programs and workshops. Student Affairs has enhanced its Student Mental Health Resources page to make access for mental health support easier for students.
What to do
Stopping this type of behavior takes collective action, and bystander intervention efforts are one way of combatting such conduct that causes real harm. Be vigilant and speak up. If you see someone engaging in harmful or destructive behavior call campus police at 801-585-COPS.