November 1, 2023
Dear students, faculty and staff,
I’m writing to share with you that an act of vandalism was recently discovered at our campus, and that the damage included a drawing of a racist symbol etched in a bathroom stall.
We have no way of knowing when this incident occurred. What we do know is that vandalism, particularly when it involves hateful and racist words or symbols, and the people who carry it out, have no place in our values-based Kent State community, which includes kindness and respect in all we do.
I want to thank those who noticed and reported the vandalism. Our campus security and facilities teams responded swiftly, immediately removing the image. I want to assure all of you that our Kent State Police investigate all instances of vandalism. Please know that you can and should report anything suspicious or destructive that you notice or witness in any of our facilities. On the Stark Campus, you may call the Department of Public Safety at 330-244-3227.
Sincerely,
Denise A. Seachrist, Ph.D.
Dean and Chief Administrative Officer
Professor, Musicology-Ethnomusicology
Kent State University at Stark