WASHINGTON — The president of the University of Maryland once again condemned a recently discovered racist, sexist email from a fraternity member in 2014, but says it doesn’t violate the university’s policies and is protected by the First Amendment.
In an email to students sent Wednesday night, President Wallace Loh called the email “hateful and reprehensible,” but said a joint investigation by the university and the Prince George’s County Police found “no subsequent conduct by anyone that raised safety concerns.”
Loh also included a statement from the student behind the email that read in part:
“I apologize for the pain that I have caused you, the entire University of Maryland community, and many others who were offended by my words. … For this, I am deeply sorry. I regret sending that email more than I’ll ever be able to put into words. I know there is no way to erase this incident or the agony it has caused, but I want you to know that I will strive to never use such language again. ”
The student’s parents also apologized to the university, and at the student’s request he will undergo diversity and cultural competence training and perform community service. Kappa Sigma fraternity says it suspended the student.
Loh says on behalf of the university, he accepts the apology. In so doing, he quoted Dr. Martin Luther King (“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that”) and Mahatma Gandhi (“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong”).
He announced a town-hall meeting hosted by the Student Government Association and Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy set for 3 p.m. Thursday in the Stamp Union Colony Ballroom.
