News

Dear Campus Community,
International events and the upcoming local, state, and national elections, combined with the advent of spring weather and more activity in the Park Blocks, provide the opportunity to remind all of us involved with Portland State University of our common commitment to justice and tolerance. Our community is a place that values diverse expression of opinion and rigorous debate about policies and programs conducted in a way that does not hurt people and is tolerant of others. I am writing to you about Portland State University’s commitment to the principle that all members of the University community are entitled to learn and work in an environment that is free from verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation, threats, and violence.

Efforts to undermine our community must be met with civility but also with clear expression of concern. Recently, the Vanguard published an editorial cartoon that was culturally insensitive and I have received several messages about it. We all realize, of course, that freedom of the press is a constitutional right, and so too is freedom of expression. I join with others in the community who found this cartoon to be insensitive, damaging, inappropriate, and inconsistent with the values associated with a Portland State University education.

The Portland State University Unity Policy states the following: “PSU supports the right of all people to learn and live safely and without fear. We will respond forthrightly to any event on campus that promotes or results in discrimination, hatred or violence against any person on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, gender, ability or sexual orientation. We value diversity and reaffirm the common humanity of all people and the intrinsic value of every individual.”

All of us must value academic freedom and the free expression of speech, but we cannot allow, support, or condone intolerance or hate. The University will not seek to limit anyone’s legally protected freedom of expression. Harassment of any kind, however, is not protected by law, and is forbidden by our Code of Student Conduct and Responsibility. We will take immediate action to investigate any allegations of harassment reported by any member of our campus community and will take action, including disciplinary action, if appropriate.

Attached to this message is a document from our Center for Academic Excellence that was written to support faculty in their efforts to respond to bias-related speech in our classrooms [This document may be downloaded here]. Others of you may be interested in reading it, as we all share some responsibility for making our campus a safe space for the expression of diverse points of view.

Outrage and anger are often our first response to inappropriate and intolerant speech and press. I urge all of us to move beyond our emotional responses and reaffirm our commitment to constructive campus dialogue around issues of justice and tolerance.
Sincerely,
Daniel O. Bernstine,
President