The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sent an email addressing an individual who stood near campus distributing harmful materials aimed at a St. Thomas faculty member Monday morning.
According to the email, the person “has done this multiple times throughout the years,” and the DEI condemns his actions and hateful messages against the LGBTQIA+ community.
“His message stands directly against our efforts to create an inclusive environment for all,” DEI wrote in the email. “And by directly disparaging one of our esteemed colleagues, he attacks all of St. Thomas and its values and convictions.”
Since the individual is stationed outside campus, St. Thomas officials cannot require the person to leave, but staff members were sent to the area to encourage passersby to not engage with the speaker.
DEI reassured students and staff that it stands behind and supports the LGBTQIA+ community and others “who have painfully endured attacks based on their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or other characteristics of their identities.”
“It is part of our university mission guided by Catholic social teaching to see and respect the dignity of every human being, and nothing that any instigator can do will deter us from that call,” DEI said in the email.
“The DEI email offered support services for community members in need.”
Natalie Hoepner can be reached at hoep8497@stthomas.edu.
Jonathan Rosario can be reached at jmrosario@stthomas.edu.