Dr. Jackie Vietti, interim president of Emporia State University, this afternoon sent the following letter via email to all faculty, staff and students:
"Yesterday afternoon you received communication from me about the University’s findings related to the alleged hate crime and racial discrimination as well as actions planned by or already in motion by the University. While it is a matter of perspective, as always, it remains my conviction that the University conducted a logical, thorough and fair investigation, as corroborated by two independent reviewers. Does racial discrimination and/or marginalization occur on our campus? Some believe it does; others do not. But in this particular instance we found no substantive evidence that it occurred in SLIM during the 2014-15 academic year. That said we are committed to working with others in Hornet Nation to identify the issues related to both and to develop a plan to address them in a systemic, sustainable way.
"While the University concluded no hate crime occurred, I want to make it clear that Emporia State is not hiding behind the legal definition of a hate crime. The University has stated publicly that the written racial slur discovered by a SLIM graduate student in her notebook is reprehensible. Again, the University is committed to working with others to determine the best means to preclude this kind of action from ever happening again on our campus.
"What the University finds equally intolerable, in addition to the written racial slur, are multiple public messages that accuse a long-time member of Hornet Nation, Debbie Rittgers, of writing the slur. While it has been publicly stated that she is the “most likely suspect” according to “a nationally known forensic handwriting expert”, no evidence has been produced to support that statement. Further, it is problematic, if not impossible, at this point to conduct a “formal handwriting test” given that the word now exists only as a picture on a cell phone. As added information during the investigation interview process, each interviewee was asked if he/she wrote the word. Ms. Rittgers’ response was that she did not, and she then offered to take a lie detector test to prove her innocence. In conversation with Ms. Rittgers today when she discovered the latest public accusation, she volunteered to take a formal handwriting test if that would clear her reputation. The University does not plan to accept her offer at this time for a variety of sound reasons, including the fact that the original sample is no longer available. Therefore, Emporia State University is taking this opportunity to formally and publicly exonerate Debbie Rittgers of any wrong-doing in this matter. I solicit your support to do the same.
"This University has stood the test of time admirably for 150+ years. As your current leader with an earned reputation for acting always with integrity and transparency, I again ask that we move forward from here to lay the foundation for the next 150, working together to build a better, stronger, more inclusive Hornet Nation in which no one is marginalized, no one is disrespected or subjected to any kind of slur, and no one’s voice is unheard. It is by listening intently to all voices, participating in hard, absolutely honest conversations, and committing to be part of the solution that we will we be able to do so.
"Thank you for engaging with me in my hard, absolutely honest conversation and for hearing my voice."