UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 13, Page 2                       
December 3, 1992                                       
Understanding is key to community                      
                                                       
                                                             
     To the campus community:                                
                                                             
     The University of Delaware community is a very special one, where
many individuals and groups are actively at work to create a campus
environment of good will based upon mutual understanding and to break
down the barriers that separate people. We are pleased that numerous
persons have assisted the University's efforts to establish a living
and learning environment that is supportive of a diverse community. We
are very proud of their accomplishments and we are very appreciative
of the support they have provided for our programs and people.
     Occasionally, here and at other campuses across the country, 
there have been incidents that are counter to our resolve to respect
and appreciate all members of our community. Thus, we have had
speakers ask audiences to accept one or another group as scapegoats,
acts of harassment and ethno-violence. Such incidents are    
contradictions in an educational community except insofar as they 
confirm the need for us to better understand the pathology of our 
society. It really is important for us to comprehend what motivates
persons to espouse ideas and ideals, to join groups or to commit acts
that persons of good will are required to detest.            
     Homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism or any other acts of 
intolerance are unacceptable in the University of Delaware community.
The members of our community-independent of sexual orientation, race
or religion-are the heart and soul of the institution, and we demand
that they be respected and appreciated for their sameness and,
importantly, for their differences.                          
     The Faculty Senate Executive Committee has addressed these issues
in a resolution presented Nov. 2. It is there noted that the 
University has a duty to guard against "disruption of the environment
of collegiality and respect for differences that enables open
exchange." The resolution exhorts "all in the University community to
improve the climate of respect, tolerance and intellectual richness by
educating and learning about the sources and forms of all kinds of
bigotry and the usual ways in which intolerance and ignorance limit
and hurt us all."                                            
     We will do all in our power to assist any persons who are made
the victims of the meanness of others, and we will enthusiastically
and energetically prosecute any known violators of the rules 
established by the University and civil or criminal code. But, an 
equally important challenge is to enlist the support of the entire
University community for the ideas set forth in the Faculty Senate
resolution.                                                  
     Intolerance and ignorance do limit and hurt us all. Each time we
take a stand against hatred and cultural stereotyping, we are
learning, we are teaching, and we are strengthening our community 
while celebrating our individual diversity.                  
     I ask you to accept the responsibility to help the University of
Delaware continue its record of progress in these important areas.
                                                             
                                                             
                                                   David P. Roselle
                                                   President