What do you know--more homophobic messages. All Carman residents received an e-mail this morning from Cristen Kromm, Director of Residential Programs, about a nasty remark scrawled on a dry erase board. Kromm's email noted that the "private joke" had "unintended consequences." The scrawler has fessed up, and hopefully that's the end of that.

Full e-mail posted after the jump.

From: Cristen Kromm <cs867@columbia.edu>
Date: Dec 16, 2007 11:58 AM
Subject: Important Carman Community Message
To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu>

Dear residents of Carman Hall:

A homophobic statement was found on a dry erase board in Carman early Friday morning. The incident was reported to residential programs staff, who reported it to Public Safety according to our protocol.

The Division of Student Affairs staff investigated the matter and contacted all of the parties involved. One of the owner's of the dry erase board has taken responsibility for the remarks. In this instance, we have learned this was intended as a joke between friends, yet, as the remarks were written in a public space open to the hall community, the private joke became a public matter.

Although the remarks did not target someone specifically, there were unintended consequences, and others in the community were impacted. This incident serves as a reminder to us all that comments, spoken or written, intentional or unintentional, can create an unwelcoming environment and disrupt your educational experience.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me via the information provided below or contact your RA for additional resources.

Best of luck to each of you as you finish your semester.

Sincerely,

Dean Cristen Kromm
Cristen Scully Kromm
Assistant Dean for Community Development/
Director of Residential Programs