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UConn-Stamford Treating Flier Vandalized With KKK As Bias Incident

STAMFORD, Conn. — Officials at the University of Connecticut in Stamford are calling it a bias incident after a flier about a billiards club tournament was defaced with the letters KKK. 

UConn-Stamford campus

UConn-Stamford campus

Photo Credit: File

In an email sent Monday to students in Stamford, 

University of Connecticut officials are treating a report of vandalism at its downtown campus as a bias incident, the school told students in an email Monday.

The defaced flier — which had detailed the rules of a billiards club tournament — was discovered March 9.

"Someone had written the letters K and K written below the text of the flier, followed by a third mark that appears to be an attempt at another K," UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said.

"Though we cherish and value academic freedom in the classroom, as well as our right to freedom of speech and individual expression, the university is committed to maintaining an environment that is welcoming and accepting of all," she said in a statement. "The university condemns the appearance and use of any symbol of hate, bias, repression, or intimidation—without exception. We will never permit the kind of divisive intolerance represented by such symbols."

In an email to the Stamford campus community, Terrence Cheng, director of UConn-Stamford, said UConn police and the university’s Office of Community Standards were notified of the incident.

"We believe it is important for our community to know how seriously we take such incidents, and understand the steps involved in reviewing them," Cheng said.

"While free expression is important in having productive dialogue, the university acts when harm occurs to valued members of our community," he said.  "Too often, for example, students are deeply affected by graffiti on a residence hall door or comments made in a hallway." 

In January 2015, UConn developed a Bias Response Protocol to support students who experience a bias-related incident. 

Students are also encouraged to report incidents that appear to be bias-related, he said. 

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