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October 18, 2022
Dear Students,
We are investigating an incident that took place this weekend as a possible violation of the Duke Community Standard and the Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harrassment and Related Misconduct. This communication follows the recommendation of the Summer 2020 Hate and Bias Working Group to provide more transparency to the student community in cases of anonymous acts of bias.
We strongly condemn any act of hate or bias on our campus and acknowledge that the impact of hateful speech can be profound and long lasting. If you are in need of support, we encourage you to connect with one of the support resources available to all students, included below the signature of this message.

Details of the incident:

On Saturday afternoon, October 15, 2022, while in the Brodhead Center, an undergraduate student received an anonymous AirDrop Message which contained hate speech focused on race. The incident was first reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) on October 17, 2022.

Next steps:

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), is currently investigating this incident to determine if more can be learned about the circumstances surrounding this event. Anyone who has more information or who has been the recipient of such a message can report it here.

Possible outcomes:

If Duke students are found to be responsible for this act, the Office of Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) will issue sanctions to the responsible student(s). Any incident that is motivated in whole or part by an individual's race, warrants "acceleration" or elevation of sanctioning due to the impact on the community.

Technology recommendations:

The use of anonymous Airdrop and other Bluetooth file sharing to perpetuate hateful rhetoric is unfortunately not unprecedented and is a violation of the community standard. The Office of Institutional Technology has offered the following recommendations to limit receipt unwanted and unsafe messages:
Apple/iphoneRestrict “Receive AirDrop From” to “Contacts Only
AndroidSet Device Visibility on Nearby Share to “Contacts"
Sincerely yours, 
John Blackshear
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost/Vice President of Student Affairs
Gary Bennett
Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

IDENTITY AND CULTURAL CENTERS:
The Student Affairs Identity and Cultural Centers also serve as important resources and places of connection and support for many of our students. The centers are offering programming and support throughout the year, including summer. Our ICCs include: Center for Multicultural Affairs, Center for Muslim Life, Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Duke International Student Center, Jewish Life at Duke, Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, and the Women’s Center.
DUKEREACH:
DukeReach will help you identify support services from among the variety of resources across campus or in your local community. You can contact DukeReach at (919-681-2455) or by emailing dukereach@duke.edu.
RELIGIOUS LIFE AT DUKE:
Religious Life at Duke offers a wide range of student supports, whether or not you are connected to a religious tradition at all. Visit their website to connect with leaders from any of Duke's diverse faith groups, all of whom are experienced in offering emotional and spiritual care, and a non-anxious presence with a humanistic listening ear, to college-age students.
SA ON-CALL TEAM:
Student Affairs has a 24/7 on-call team to support urgent student matters. For urgent concerns after business hours, you may contact the Dean on-Call (cell: 984-287-0300), or if you are living in residential spaces, you may connect with the Residence Coordinator On-Call by contacting your Residential Assistant On-Call or directly through Duke Police (919-684-2444).