Black Emphasis Month via the President of USF

[Orenthal James]

Dear USF Community,



An incident recently took place in which a rope, simulating a noose, was
found hanging from a tree near the Magnolia Apartments. Campus police
are vigorously investigating this incident, using every resource at
their disposal in the effort to find those responsible for this
deplorable act. If found, the individuals involved will be swiftly dealt
with by our university judicial system.



To my dismay, this incident marks the second time in two years that our
community has witnessed acts of intolerance. Last year, the bust of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. in the MLK Plaza was the target of vandalism.
Both incidents were committed at the same time of year-at the beginning
of Black Emphasis Month-making these acts particularly reprehensible.



During February, the University of South Florida is celebrating Black
Emphasis Month. It is a time for us to honor and celebrate the
contributions of African Americans to our university, our state and our
nation. I hope you will make time to participate in the many events USF
offers in celebration of Black Emphasis Month. They are an important
part of what makes USF a community.



Black Emphasis Month is a time for celebration, as well as a time for
reflection. Universities have value and relevance in our society because
we bring together people with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, agendas and
perspectives to educate future generations and to address the
challenging issues of our times. Indeed, varying perspectives - and
respect for those perspectives - is at the very core of the mission of
our nation's public universities.



As members of the USF community, we have a duty to go beyond mere
tolerance of diversity and difference. We must appreciate diversity in
our hearts, encourage it in our relationships, and defend it in our
actions. During this month, we should look inside ourselves as
individuals -- and as an institution -- to examine whether we are
fulfilling this duty. We should also remind ourselves that we can always
do more.



Sincerely,



Judy Genshaft

President

[Mayfuck]

Seriously? Dang.