I am deeply concerned about an issue that I have heard about just today (May 18).

I understand that e-mails passed between students in one of our classes contained material that some students believe is racist and contains threats of sexual violence.

In response, a full investigation has already been launched by our Office of Public Safety. Materials have been sent to the Eugene prosecutors’ office for review. The Office of Student Life is investigating. I have asked these offices to keep me informed of their progress, and to move as quickly as possible to find out the facts and deal appropriately with any infractions of state law or our own Student Conduct Code.

In addition, processes are underway to review and possibly tighten, consistent with our responsibilities under the Constitution, our campus codes dealing with threats. I plan as well to ask for a review of our current policies regarding appropriate use of e-mail.

Every student has a right to feel safe on our campus. Every student has a responsibility to make sure that bonds of trust are not broken.

This is a big task, and one I cannot do alone. Our faculty and staff cannot do it alone. We must act together, as a caring, tolerant and scholarly community, to ensure free speech while respecting individual rights to safety.

We all must take responsibility. If you hear hate speech, report it. If you see an infraction of our Student Conduct Code, report it. If you experience an incident that makes you feel unsafe, bring it to the attention of our Office of Public Safety. If you have a complaint under our conduct code, bring it to the Office of Student Life.

I will do everything I can to help.

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