Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion Dania Matos and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Stephen C. Sutton issued the following message on Thursday, August 31, 2023:
Dear campus community,
On Friday, August 25, an incident was reported at Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (AEPi), a fraternity that serves the Jewish community at UC Berkeley. New details have since emerged that similar vandalism — throwing and dumping shellfish — occurred at multiple fraternities. The campus is still trying to determine exactly what occurred and some details remain to be determined and confirmed.
Regardless of the intent and sequence of events, the members of AEPi were understandably upset by vandalism of a Jewishly-identified institution on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) with food (shellfish littered on the grounds and inside the AEPi property) expressly forbidden by Jewish religious law and avoided by many Jews. The vandalism was experienced as a targeted attack on their Jewish religious and cultural identities and traditions. UC Berkeley campus leadership has taken this issue very seriously and has been in regular communication with key stakeholders on campus and at AEPi about next steps and how best to move forward.
However the facts unfold, we deeply empathize with the members of AEPi and we understand and recognize their experience of this as an antisemitic attack. In conversations with fraternity leaders, the evident sense of harm is a reminder of the emotional and social challenges stemming from incidents of bias and bigotry. It's important to note that intent can differ from impact. As a campus, we uphold the values of inclusivity, respect, and understanding and we reaffirm our commitment to the Principles of Community. We must remain vigilant to ensure that all members of our campus community feel welcome, safe, and respected.
If you or someone you know has been affected, please know that support is available.
Resources:
-
Reporting: Our campus is committed to thoroughly investigating such incidents and taking appropriate actions to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone. For information visit stophate.berkeley.edu.
-
Academic Accommodations Hub: Should you be grappling with the repercussions of this event, we encourage you to explore academic flexibility in consultation with your instructors.
-
Well-Being: Visit the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students’ Well Being resource, which provides more information about holistic wellness resources across campus. To discover additional resources and establish connections, reach out to deanofstudents@berkeley.edu.
-
Mental Health Support: Campus counselors at University Health Services at the Tang Center are available on a drop-in basis for urgent concerns. Visit the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website or call at (510) 642-9494. When the Tang Center is closed, call the after hours counseling line (855) 817-5667.
-
The Center for Jewish Studies: Learn more about the UC Berkeley’s Center for Jewish Studies, promoting interdisciplinary research, antisemitism education, and understanding about the richness and depth of Jewish history and culture for students and the larger community.
-
Jewish Life: Find belonging within your community and with other student groups that serve the Jewish identity, including Berkeley Hillel and the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center. View a complete list of all registered student groups at callink.berkeley.edu.
-
Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) responds to and resolves reports of protected category discrimination and harassment (including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services), as well as sexual violence/sexual harassment involving students, staff, faculty, and visitors. This may include violence and also harassment such as online or virtual harassment (including "doxxing" or "trolling"), and physical or online stalking behaviors, if the respondent can be identified and is part of the UCB community. OPHD can help you understand your rights, options, and resources, including campus and community support, and offers informal and formal resolution pathways. Learn more about OPHD or call (510) 643-7985.
We invite you to share this message of support with your networks; please take care of yourselves and each other.
In community,
Dania Matos
she/her/ella
Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion
Stephen C. Sutton
he/him/his
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs