The following message was sent by email to faculty, staff, and students on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

Dear Campus Community,

We are grappling with one of the most difficult and sensitive issues that can affect a university community: the problem of sexual violence, harassment, and intimidation on our campus. The incident recently reported in our community is incredibly complex and disturbing. It has raised important questions and led to many thoughtful discussions of a problem that directly affects the lives of far too many students on our campus and across the country.

I spoke directly about this issue to the University Senate yesterday, and called for our campus to take this opportunity to move forward together as a community, to channel our anger and our energy around this incident and direct it toward a solution. As I said to the senate, we have an opportunity—a responsibility—to lead the nation in creating a campus that is safe from sexual violence.

I encourage you to visit the links below for more detailed information about this particular incident, as well as our broader efforts to create a campus that is safe for all.

This is our time to come together as a campus to change the culture of sexual violence, harassment, and intimidation that devastates far too many lives.

Regards,

Michael Gottfredson, President

SAFE.uoregon.edu, a resource for students who have experienced sexual violence and harassment

President Gottfredson’s remarks to the University Senate, May 14, 2014

Timeline of UO actions following the March 9, 2014 incident

Questions and answers about the March 9, 2014 incident

Sexual violence prevention and response