Many in the community are outraged, as they should be, by these expressions of bigotry. They are directing much of their anger toward the Herald and the administration, arguing that as a direct result of the Herald publishing the ad and the University supporting the newspaper's right to do so, hatemongers and racists have felt empowered to spread their messages. We have and will continue to pursue any reports we receive from members of the community who have been the victims of harassing or threatening statements. The University vigorously investigates all reported incidents. As to the Internet postings, I personally find many of them to be unacceptable, degrading, demeaning, and racist.
Many anonymous postings are acts of cowardice calculated to insult, disturb, or intimidate.
In the last year, I have had multiple conversations with editors of the BDH about these postings. Several of my colleagues in the senior administration have had similar discussions with the editors during the last two years. I call upon the editors of the Herald , the Daily Jolt and other organizations that allow such postings to reconsider their policies. Many newspapers and other media such as the New York Times , the Providence Journal , and CNN, require a registration process in which opinions must be signed by their authors. The adoption of such a policy would go a long way toward promoting honest and open discussion and raising the level of discourse that this community both expects and deserves.