In a letter to the campus community, dated Sept. 17, UD President David Roselle stressed the need to treat all members of the campus community with respect.

Citing comparisons made between Sept. 11, 2001, and the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, his letter read, in part:

"The national unity that was inspired by Pearl Harbor does, indeed, serve as a model for how Americans should react to the more recent crimes against our Nation.

"There is, however, one important aspect of America's reaction to Pearl Harbor that we should not repeat--namely, our Nation's mistreatment of Japanese citizens then in America as well as Americans of Japanese heritage.

"I join President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and many other leaders in cautioning against presumptions of guilt or presumptions of disloyalty. Independent of race, nationality, creed or religion, all of the University's students, staff, faculty and guests deserve to be presumed innocent of crimes and all deserve to be treated with respect.

"It is important to note that dozens of international corporations and nonprofit organizations had offices in the World Trade Center and that the names of many foreigners and Americans of foreign descent are among the list of missing and presumed dead.

"Our entire University community is sympathetic to the survivors and the families and friends of the many victims of the terrible atrocities that occurred in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

"I call upon all members of the University of Delaware community to do their part in preserving the rights of others and in honoring the tradition of our institution as a warm and welcoming place for all people. We dare not and we will not tolerate any contrary behavior."