December 9, 2018

Dear Members of the BC Community:

I write to inform you of a racist incident that occurred last night on campus that is deeply offensive to all of us within the Boston College community, especially our community members of color.

A BC student was arrested by BC Police for a bias-motivated incident involving explicitly racist graffiti in Welch Hall.  The student also faces charges for assaulting BC Police officers and for destruction of property in a separate incident in another residence hall.

As a result, the student has been issued an immediate summary suspension, and will not be allowed to return to campus until his case has been adjudicated.  Given the severity of his actions, he faces expulsion from the University.

As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Boston College has zero tolerance for acts of racism.  These actions are in conflict with our institutional values, which call on all of us to treat one another with love and respect. I ask you to reinforce to all those who comprise our community that such acts of hatred will never be accepted here.  

If you have questions, feel free to reach out to your RA, counselors in University Counseling, or my staff within Student Affairs.  We are here to assist in any way, and to work with all of you to ensure that we are not defined by this act of hatred, but by the caring, inclusive goodwill that is at the heart of the BC community.

 

Sincerely,

Joy H. Moore
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs