October 29, 2021
When one part of our IU community is targeted with hate, we all feel it. In the past week, I've been saddened to see acts of vandalism and hate directed at specific populations on our campus and in our community.
We have seen deeply disturbing antisemitic behavior in some of our residence halls. Off campus, the Islamic Center of Bloomington, which is a second home to many members of the IU Muslim community, was vandalized. Such conduct is absolutely unacceptable, and those responsible for these acts who can be identified will be held accountable by the appropriate authorities. And while that helps, it doesn't fully repair damage that incidents like these bring to the individuals and communities who were targeted.
We continue to work on raising awareness of the reality and seriousness of antisemitism and Islamophobia, and IU condemns antisemitism and Islamophobia without qualification.
I encourage all members of the IU Bloomington community to join me in actively promoting a campus climate of diversity, respect, and inclusion on our campus. I also urge everyone to stand up for what you know is right in a diverse and inclusive community, and to stand in solidarity with those who are targeted for who they are, where they come from, or what they believe.
There are many resources available through the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs to pursue your own journey into recognizing bias and furthering diversity and acceptance on our campus. Diversity education and training sessions as well as anti-racist tools and resources are there and ready for use by us all. In addition, the Division of Student Affairs supports and cares for our students who have experienced hate and/or a bias incident. All members of the IU community can report a bias incident here.
We all have a role to play in supporting diversity on our campus and supporting those who are affected by specific incidents of bias.
John S. Applegate
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
IU Bloomington