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Supporting Diversity and Building the Campus Community through Tolerance of Individual Difference

On Thursday, October 8, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year old University of Wyoming student, was savagely attacked, burned, pistol-whipped and left to die for up to 18 hours while tied to a wooden fence, allegedly because of his sexual orientation. After being found by passing motorcyclists, who believed his battered body to be a scarecrow, Matthew remained in a coma and on life support until he died on Monday, October 12, 1998.

Matthew Shepard's death brings great sorrow to any thinking and feeling human being. The NC State Community joins in the grief of Matthew's family and friends. We also grieve, in astonishment, for Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney, the men who are accused of viciously murdering Matthew Shepard. Hatred is not innate; it is taught and must be learned. If guilty, apparently these two men gave in to an environment of hate, and Matthew's death is a product of that despicable hatred. Finally, we grieve for the entire nation, for the ignorance that permits violence as an unchallenged response to differences among people, and for the reality that a human being could so brutally and violently take the life of another.

In response to this tragedy, the NC State University community must renew its vehement opposition to any expression of hatred and violence directed toward any individual or group based on sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. All forms of harassment and discrimination are completely incompatible with the values and goals of NC State and will not be tolerated on this campus. Here at NC State, students involved in acts of violence or intimidation against other students will be charged with a serious violation of the Student Code of Conduct and will be prosecuted aggressively under the student judicial system. If found guilty, students could face suspension or expulsion.

NC State University's position has long been that educational and employment decisions should be based on an individual's abilities and qualifications and should not be based on factors or personal characteristics that are not germane to academic abilities or job performance. Traditionally we have viewed race, sex, religion, and national origin as among those factors which are not connected with academic abilities or job performance. An individual's sexual orientation is another factor which is not relevant to educational and employment decisions. Only relevant factors will be considered in such decisions. Furthermore, equitable and consistent standards of conduct and performance will be applied to all members of the North Carolina State University Community.

NC State is a diverse community that extends a nurturing embrace to men and women of different races, national origins, religions, sexual orientations, and varying physical and mental abilities. All of us, faculty, staff, administrators, and students, must work together to build a community that is inclusive and welcoming to all people, both tolerating and celebrating these personal characteristics. Only then can NC State achieve its mission to actively integrate teaching, research, and extension to create an innovative learning environment that stresses the mastery of fundamentals through intellectual discipline, creativity, reasoned problem solving, and individual responsibility. It is imperative that each member of the NC State University community, as a responsible citizen, respects each other and treats each fellow human being as he or she would like to be treated. Only to the extent that we can together eliminate hatred and violence can our nation be considered a civilized and safe place for all people.

Marye Anne Fox
Chancellor
October 19, 1998