Offices for Student Groups Vandalized on UO Campus: Native American, Vietnamese and Black Women Groups

This information was just sent out to University of Oregon students and faculty:

Dear Members of the UO Community:

Today, we learned to our disappointment that doors leading to the Native American Student Union (NASU), the Vietnamese Student Association and Black Women of Achievement (VSA and BWA) had, respectively, been vandalized. We are shocked and saddened that events like that can happen on our campus.

As a community of scholars, we are committed to civility and welcoming all of our students. We are also committed to values of understanding, inclusion and mutual respect. That is why such uncivil acts have no place of abode in our midst.

The University of Oregon Police Department is investigating the incident and perpetrators will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. While our law enforcement authorities are carefully investigating the two incidents, preliminary investigations indicate that no member of our campus community appears to have been hurt in the process, and that our students continue to feel safe. At the same time, our students are shaken by the unfortunate as well as uncivil incidents, and we share their frustration.

Meanwhile, staff members at the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence (CMAE), which is an affiliate unit of the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), and offices of Dean of Students and Undergraduate Studies, are reaching out to the student leaders of the Native American Student Union, Vietnamese Student Association and Black Women of Achievement. As things stand now, we neither know the motivation of the perpetrators of those acts, nor do we know whether they are members of the university community. Yet, we want to reiterate that anyone found to be involved will be dealt with appropriately and according to law.

We also want to add that such sad incidents go a long way to remind us of the importance of honoring and treasuring one another. We urge everyone to cooperate and act responsibly.

Therefore, anyone with information related to these unfortunate incidents is urged to contact the UO Police Department at 541-346-2919.

Sincerely, Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh, Vice President, Equity and Inclusion Robin Holmes, Vice President, Student Affairs

The Vietnamese Students Association posted a response on Facebook earlier today in response to the vandalism.

It was truly upsetting to find our VSA’s sign slashed, vandalized and shredded on the ground outside our office. We at UO VSA wish to promote tolerance, peace, understanding and friendship to all students, irregardless of their race or nationality. Although it is shocking and saddening to have this happen to us, we will NOT be intimidated by this cowardly and disgusting act. To the individual who did this to us, I want to make this personally clear: You do NOT scare us, you will NOT break us, and you will NOT crush our resolve to promote and celebrate our culture here at our University. We will continue, as always, to provide a family to our members, serve as a resource to our campus, and stand in solidarity against racism, prejudice, ignorance and cowardice.