SUBJECT:

An important message about civility at UC San Diego

Like all great public research universities, our campus is home to diverse organizations, faculty, staff and students with a wide range of interests and points of view. Freedom of speech and expression are essential aspects of public universities as they lend themselves to intellectual inquiry and debate, and help members of our community define their own points of view. Debate and life on public university campuses will inevitably reflect the current social and political ethos of our local, national, and global society. Diverse points of view on social and political concerns often intensify debate and can develop into a more fervent form of give and take, with opposing points of view, positions, and ideologies that can offend or create feelings of discomfort. “Hate speech" by its nature is meant to offend. However, it is still protected by the First Amendment. This is why we encourage and promote civility and respect in every exchange. We strongly urge all UC San Diego students, faculty and staff to be guided by respect as we debate the issues of our complex world.

The campus offers guidelines and resources regarding free speech as it relates to the U.S. Constitution and UC San Diego policies‚ and how to navigate various areas of campus life pertaining to freedom of expression. For more information on free speech, please visit the website below:

• Freedom of Speech and Expression at UC San Diego http://freespeech.ucsd.edu

Below are resources to support you:

• If students are in need of counseling support, they should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (http://caps.ucsd.edu/) crisis line: (858) 534-3755.

• In case of an emergency, all campus community members are encouraged to call 911 or contact campus police at (858) 534-HELP (4357).

• Students can go to UC San Diego’s ReportBias website (http://reportbias.ucsd.edu) to file suspected bias incidents, or they can file a grievance in person at the Office for Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

As a reminder, the Deans of Student Affairs at the colleges are an excellent resource and offer a number of support services for students.

Juan C. González Vice Chancellor – Student Affairs Becky Petitt Vice Chancellor – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion