University of New Hampshire students who do not behave with "civility" could face disciplinary action, according to the co-chair of the UNH presidential task force on campus climate.
Asked to elaborate on the task force's interim report naming "the need for ensuring civility" as key to the development of campus diversity, co-chair Jaime Nolan responded, "At UNH, we believe ensuring civility is about creating the conditions in which every member of a campus community can critically analyze, speak, listen, understand, and empathize with others."
"It is not something that can be successfully mandated but uncivil, hateful, or violent behaviors on campus could result in disciplinary action," continued Nolan, who also serves as associate vice president of community, equity and diversity.
The report itself does not offer any further clarification on what may constitute "uncivil behaviors."
UNH president Mark Huddleston called for a diversity task force to be formed in August, after students attending a Cinco de Mayo celebration wore ponchos, sombreros, and fake mustaches. Those students were widely slammed for appropriating Mexican culture and their "disrespectful language and behavior" condemned in an email released at the time by Huddleston and Provost Nancy Targett, the other co-chair of the task force.
The interim report notes that the Cinco de Mayo incident and national events, such as the deadly Charlottesville protest, were a "wake up call" for UNH. The university "is at pivotal moment in its institutional history with regard to inclusive excellence, community, civility, equity and diversity," continued the report.
"UNH continues to move away from the mindset of diversity as 'add on,'" reads the report. "[W]e are developing the understanding that diversity and inclusion are critical threads woven consistently throughout the entire fabric of UNH."
Huddleston requested the task force's final report be made by Jan. 19, 2018.