Vanderbilt University Police Department responded on Monday, Dec. 3, to reports of flyers containing racist and homophobic language being discovered on printers in some locations on campus. VUPD has been actively investigating the incident and has notified Metro Nashville Police Department, as well as the Tennessee Fusion Center and the FBI.
In response to the reports, Vanderbilt University Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said, “We strongly condemn the hateful language found on flyers sent to some of our campus printers today. This hideous language and the sentiments behind it have no place in our society.”
The flyers appear to be promotions related to external internet trolling organizations linked to extremism, homophobia and racism. The university has instituted short-term measures to block this activity and is exploring appropriate technical alternatives to improve our ability to defend against such attacks.
Anyone with information on the matter is asked to contact VUPD.
Vanderbilt University is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff, and to providing a welcoming and inclusive community. Vanderbilt does not tolerate language or actions that are racist and intended to create fear and division within our community.