This statement was emailed to UO faculty and staff from Human Resources on the afternoon of May 6, 2024.

Dear University of Oregon colleagues, 

The loss of life and impact of violence in Gaza and Israel and the complex history surrounding this region have evoked strong emotions from many, including some of our students. These students hold strong convictions on this topic, and many have good intentions. We also know many other students are deeply distressed and have come to feel unwelcome in the very place they regard as their community. The University of Oregon has a long tradition of responding to demonstrations with engagement, listening, and dialogue, in hopes of achieving a peaceful resolution. University leaders have been in regular communication with the students engaged in the current demonstration.

I want to acknowledge that this is a tense time, and we may hear and see things that are deeply offensive and hurtful to us. While upsetting, this speech is generally protected by the Oregon and US Constitutions. UO respects and protects the constitutional right to free speech, peaceful dissent, and freedom of expression, while also being committed to upholding the right for all our students to receive their education, to participate in and attend classes, and to do so safely and without intimidation. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, anti-Palestinian hatred, and other forms of hate and intimidation are loathsome and do not reflect the values of our university.

The University of Oregon is committed to fostering equity and inclusion and a welcoming, safe, and respectful community for all. This commitment is central to our organization and is specifically called out in our core values, which assert that we “value our diversity and seek to foster equity and inclusion in a welcoming, safe, and respectful community.” As a public institution, we are also bound by federal law, specifically Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires us to provide “a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.” This necessitates us taking adequate steps to address discriminatory harassment and to prevent an unlawful hostile environment on campus that limits the ability of any individual to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by our university.

Resources and support

The following information and resources reinforce expectations related to expressing a political position or supporting political activity while maintaining a respectful workplace. Staff, faculty, graduate employees, student employees, and supervisors are expected to work together to create a respectful working and learning environment that lives up to our commitments and requirements to be a safe environment free from discrimination. 

• Political Activity: We each are free to hold and to express our political views, but we must remain sensitive to the views of others and must not use work time or the workplace to promote or oppose political views that are not relevant to our assigned work. A reminder of these obligations was sent to campus on April 23 and can be found on the Human Resources website.
• Institutional Resources: Employees should not provide or utilize institutional resources (printing, fiscal, supplies, etc.) to benefit, advance, or support a particular candidate or ballot measure.
• Respectful Workplace: We recognize that concerns about current events can lead to stress. It is never appropriate to vent stress or frustration in demeaning, threatening, or verbally abusive ways. Please visit the Respectful Workplace notice webpage for additional information and resources.

We encourage anyone with concerns or who may need support to reach out for help using the many resources available across campus including:  

• Canopy, the university's employee assistance program (EAP) provider, for confidential assistance. Canopy can be reached by phone at 1-800-433-2320, by text message at 503-850-7721, or by email at info@canopywell.com. More information is available on the HR website.
• The Free Speech and Safety website offers a comprehensive list of resources based on topic.
• In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
• To report a non-emergency criminal concern, contact UO Police Department at 541-346-2919.  

The Free Speech and Safety website offers a comprehensive list of resources. We continue to update the Frequently Asked Question page with information. Additional statements or alerts will be published to the website or sent to campus as necessary.

Sincerely,

Mark Schmelz
Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice President