An open letter from concerned members of the UT community

Over the past few weeks, the Rock has been covered twice with hateful symbols and violent threats that directly targeted the University of Tennessee's Jewish community. Like all hateful and menacing communications, these forms of expression are intended to intimidate and sow fear. This intention is more palpable when it singles out vulnerable or marginalized minority groups. And it is rendered even more stark coming in the wake of the anti-Semitic massacre of 11 Jewish worshippers in a Pittsburgh synagogue. 

Confronted with these troubling campus incidents, the interim chancellor expressed his disappointment and responded that “the university does not condone these actions or other acts of intimidation or intolerance.”  

We, the faculty and staff of UTK, recognize the need to go further: We unequivocally condemn expressions of hatred that threaten or intimidate or bring into doubt the value of diversity and inclusivity on our campus and in our city. And we express our strongest support for and solidarity with UTK’s Jewish students, faculty and staff, and all members of our community who have been targeted by this and other similar attacks. More than 500 people signed this open letter: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgBWwAjAv8uY4RIvgi_oT0dI06kRxAfSeGUsJ278uFlsx6pw/viewform?usp=sf_link 

Free speech and academic freedom are central to a vibrant campus and rightly merit rigorous protection. But we must never allow protection of the free marketplace of ideas to prevent us from calling out forms of expression that harm rather than genuinely contribute to this marketplace. Among other reasons, such forms of expression have a chilling effect on the rights and freedoms of others, particularly when directed against minority or marginalized groups.  

We all deserve a campus where hatred finds no purchase or succor. A place that not only is safe, but feels safe. In this spirit of safety and inclusion, our doors are open to you and we stand together with you.  

Lauren Cunningham Accounting & Information Management 
Phyliss Shey Academic Success & Transitions 
Elizabeth Owen Admissions 
Amadou B. Sall Africana Studies 
Christopher Clark Agricultural & Resource Economics 
Gina Pighetti  Animal Science 
Maria Prado Animal Science 
Eliza Echeverry Anthropology 
Jan F. Simek Anthropology 
Lee Jantz Anthropology 
Rebecca Klenk Anthropology 
Graciela Cabana Anthropology  
Tricia R. Hepner Anthropology  
Albrecht von Arnim Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology 
Andreas Nebenfuehr Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology 
Keerthi Krishnan Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology 
Rebecca Prosser Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology 
Aly Chapman Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences 
Cody Harrison Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science 
Douglas Hayes Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science 
Joanne Logan Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science 
Haileab Hilafu Business Analytics and Statistics 
Patrick Watson Center for Literacy, Education & Employment 
Niki Labbe Center for Renewable Carbon/FWF 
William C Wilson Central Supply 
Eric Boder Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 
Linda Sherman Chemistry 
Steven Neal Chemistry 
Amy Rauer Child and Family Studies 
Hillary Fouts Child and Family Studies 
Jo Lynn Cunningham Child and Family Studies 
Julia Jaekel Child and Family Studies 
Margaret Quinn Child and Family Studies 
Megan Haselschwerdt Child and Family Studies 
Chris Cox Civil and Environmental Engineering 
Khalid Alshibli Civil and Environmental Engineering 
Christopher Craig Classics 
Jessica A Westerhold Classics 
Maura Lafferty Classics 
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M. Robin Witherspoon College of Arts & Sciences 
Patricia Anthony College of Arts & Sciences Administration 
Deloris Mabins-Adenekan College of Arts & Sciences Advancement 
Don Eisenberg College of Arts & Sciences Advancement 
Jane S. Gulley College of Arts & Sciences Advancement 
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Robin Hicks College of Nursing  
Sandy Mixer  College of Nursing  
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Sharon L Smith Communication Studies 
Suzy Prentiss Communication Studies 
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Bill Deane Earth and Planetary Sciences 
Devon Burr Earth and Planetary Sciences 
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Randy Small Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 
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Xingli Giam Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 
Susan Kalisz Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 
Louis Gross Ecology & Evolutionary Biology/Math 
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Matt Harris Economics 
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Laura S. Wheat Educational Psychology & Counseling 
Lauren Moret Educational Psychology & Counseling 
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Bruce MacLennan Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 
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Richard Bennet Engineering Fundamentals 
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