To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Chancellor Richard Herman" <chancellor@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: chancellor@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Respect and Responsibility

Date:     October 31, 2006

To:       Faculty, Staff, and Students

From:     Chancellor Richard Herman

Re:       Respect and Responsibility

I was saddened and disappointed when I learned about the recent ZBT and 
Tri Delta party that ended up portraying Latino/as in stereotypical and 
denigrating ways. Students who took part in such behavior were being 
insensitive, thoughtless and, quite frankly, juvenile. Although I'm not in 
the business of telling students how to think, I expect more of our 
Illinois students. They are the best and the brightest of the next 
generation, and such callous behavior is beneath them. The challenges of 
our multi-cultural society demand that each of us constantly examine our 
biases and work hard to put ourselves in the shoes of people who come from 
widely varying backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We can have strong 
and differing opinions about culture, politics and policy, but we must 
never lose touch with granting everyone the kind of respect and dignity we 
would like others to grant to us. Everyone of every background is welcome 
at Illinois, and I want them to feel welcome. 

As is so often the case with these kinds of incidents, the ensuing debate 
is an education in itself. The controversy has spurred a great deal of 
conversation about treating one another with common decency, and that is 
good. The process of reviewing the incident is now underway, and I believe 
a deeper appreciation of our cultural diversity and individual 
responsibility will be the result. Vice Chancellor Renee Romano has been 
working with the various groups involved to turn what I believe to have 
been poor judgment on the part of students into a learning experience. 
Already, the controversy has added impetus to our plans to heighten 
diversity education on campus.

Yet, for the insensitivity that was shown, I apologize.

Young people are always works in progress, and I believe this event will 
help remind us all to be better and more thoughtful people.


This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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