TO: Campus Community
FR: Jerlena Griffin-Desta, Ph.D., Chief of Staff, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Diversity
Mo Phillips, M.Ed., Director of Student Involvement, Co-Chair Queer Faculty and Staff Association
Elizabeth Burch, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor, Communication and Media Studies, Co-Chair, Queer Faculty and Staff Association
On June 30, the final day of Pride Month, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office was informed by the Sonoma State University Police Department that the SSU Pride Flag was cut down from the flagpole and taken. We do not know who took it or why. SSUPD is treating its absence as an act of vandalism, theft, and, until and unless they receive information to the contrary, as a hate crime. Given the visible anti-LGBTQI bigotry and violence occurring across the United States right now, it is difficult to imagine that taking down the flag is a benign act, thus malicious reasons are more likely.
The DEI Office immediately ordered another flag and will work with the Queer Faculty and Staff Association to plan another raising ceremony in the immediate future.
Despite the somewhat open and accepting environment here in Sonoma County and on our campus, compared to other parts of the country, let us not be complacent in our unequivocal stance against hatred and aggression of any kind against the LGBTQI community and their families. We must remain diligent and focused on helping to ensure that our campus is safe and that members of the LGBTQI community feel a strong sense of belonging on our campus, as well as in their communities. We all gain safety from watching out for one another. And we prosper with the shared resources of community — and of simple kindness and respect toward one another. Let’s be rich in all of our brilliant and beautiful diversity.
Should you have any information related to this incident, please contact the SSUPD non-emergency number at 707-664-4444 or police@sonoma.edu, as this is an on-going investigation.