In October, President Cartwright shared with us a message condemning hate, violence, and antisemitism. Over the past several months, university leaders have engaged with students, student organizations, parents, and our community leaders to ensure we continue to build a strong campus climate of inclusion and belonging.
Yesterday, UCF Police were called to respond to a troubling situation — one that calls for an additional reminder to our community to reflect on the power of words, the importance of civility, and the need for respect for one another.
During an outdoor demonstration that was hosted in accordance with university policy, a group of students was confronted by another student upset by the nature of the demonstration. This individual went on to threaten the students, saying he was going to shoot them with a gun. This statement, a direct anti-Semitic threat, meets the federal definition of a hate crime.
The individual who made this reckless threat was arrested by UCF Police, and officers have confirmed that he does not own any firearms. While the student acknowledged his emotions got the better of him and apologized for his words, he will still have to answer for the violations of university policy and state and federal laws.
At UCF, we all have the right to free expression — but violence, threats of violence, and unlawful harassment will not be tolerated.
I hope our campus community will continue to come together to condemn hate and violence and to uphold the culture of compassion, understanding, and peace that we have all built together at UCF.
