Dear Cal Maritime community,
On Wednesday, September 8, Cal Maritime Library employees were alerted that a swastika had been carved into one of the Library tables. The Library has reported the anti-Semitic vandalism to the Department of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion and they are conducting an investigation.
The Cal Maritime Library condemns this symbol of Nazi hate and the intolerance that it represents. Anti-Semitism is often connected to other hatreds, such as homophobia, racism, sexism, and xenophobia, and we reject bigotry in all its forms. Actions which implicitly or explicitly threaten any community member threaten all of us. This incident occurs at a time when other derogatory vandalism has affected the campus community, and none of these ideologies should have a home on our campus.
The Library is committed to providing a welcoming environment that is safe and inclusive for all community members, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We affirm the California State University Policy on Discrimination and Harassment, which states that “The California State University (CSU) is committed to maintaining an inclusive community that values diversity and fosters tolerance and mutual respect.”
We want to be sure you know how to report incidents and concerns, and how to seek help for yourself or someone else:
Report an Incident: You can contact the University Police Department or use the Incident Reporting link on the Corps of Cadets website to report incidents, including hate crimes and vandalism.
Coping Resources: We encourage you to make use of the resources offered by CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services). CAPS is available to assist you with confidential counseling free of charge.
Signed, the Cal Maritime Library
Michele Van Hoeck
Pamela Baird
Sianna Brito
Margot Hanson
Amber Janssen
Kitty Luce
Mark Stackpole
Patricia Thibodeau
To celebrate, the Library will highlight some of the movies and books in our collection that spotlight the experience of Latinx communities. Come check them out!
The Library of Congress-hosted website for National Hispanic Heritage Month has more information about the history of the dates:
"The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period."
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