We are writing to provide the University of Maine position on recent Facebook posts by the UMaine College Republicans on their private Facebook page

Dana, Robert Q.

Ferrini-Mundy, Joan

English

University of Maine

The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Special Collections 10-8-2019 University President statement on social media posts by UMaine College Republicans Joan Ferrini-Mundy Robert Q. Dana Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice  Part of the Higher Education Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, and the United States History Commons Repository Citation Ferrini-Mundy, Joan and Dana, Robert Q., "University President statement on social media posts by UMaine College Republicans" (2019). Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. 88. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/88 This Correspondence is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact um.library.technical.services@maine.edu. Spring ’21 COVID-19 updatesA-ZCalendarGiveMapNewsmyUMaineOffice of thePresidentCommunity Message: October 7October 8, 2019  President's MessagesTo the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias communities:We are writing to provide the University of Maine position on recent Facebook posts by the UMaine College Republicans on their privateFacebook page.The positions re ected and reposted on that page are neither supported by nor re ective of the University of Maine’s values and principles ofinclusivity and equity.For those of you who are not aware, the Facebook post uses 15th-century Spanish war propaganda to dehumanize indigenous peoples,implying all indigenous peoples of the Americas are brutal savages.We fully understand that this sort of material is upsetting to many members of our community, and it does not align with our values or thestated values of the university.UMaine is a community brought together in our di erences, and some of our most highly held values are civility, inclusion, compassion,understanding and respect. When those values are called into question by the words or actions of others, the reverberations are real andwidely felt.The best remedy for speech we do not like or disagree with is more speech, and many are expressing their feelings to us and perhaps even onFacebook. We are asking faculty, sta  and students to discuss these matters with each other, and to weigh in on these important discussions.Student Life will be co-hosting group discussions with Student Government on the roots of Indigenous Peoples Day, and free speech as acommunity ideal. That is essential if we are to be engaged and working to make change in our society.We recognize how painful and frustrating it is to have to repeatedly defend our values of community and respect, but we are con dent thatour many voices will join together on Monday to celebrate the historic, cultural and contemporary signi cance of indigenous people acrossMaine.Joan Ferrini-Mundy President of the University of Maine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at MachiasRobert Q. Dana Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students

University President statement on social media posts by UMaine College Republicans

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1087&context=social_justice

University President statement on social media posts by UMaine College Republicans

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