Sonoma State University

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Dear Seawolf Community,

Sonoma State University is committed to fostering a campus where every member of our community is treated with dignity and respect and has the opportunity to learn, work, and engage in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and violence.

Recent incidents of anti-Jewish hate on our campus involving swastikas and other reported conduct have raised concerns about antisemitism. In one incident, a small swastika made from chalk dust was discovered in a hallway. In another, a swastika was found in a graduate reading room and appears to have been drawn on the whiteboard over the summer. A report also has been received of anti-Jewish language directed toward students.

The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) and the Sonoma State University Police Department are aware of these incidents and are working with individuals who have reported concerns. Hate symbols and reports of biased conduct can have an impact beyond those who directly encounter them, particularly members of communities historically targeted by such symbols and language.

Harassment, discrimination, and acts of hate are contrary to our values and will not be tolerated. When concerns are reported, the university is committed to responding, connecting impacted individuals with resources and support, and taking appropriate action consistent with university policy.

These incidents are an important reminder of our shared responsibility to uphold our Seawolf Values: Integrity, Respect, Excellence, and Responsibility. These values call on each of us not simply to avoid harmful conduct, but to actively contribute to a community where we look out for one another, intervene when appropriate, and treat one another with dignity and respect.

Coming Together as a Community
In response to these recent concerns, the Seawolf community is invited to come together in solidarity for a Restorative Circle - Brave Space on Tuesday, October 13 at noon in 200A International Hall. This gathering will provide an opportunity to connect as a community, reaffirm our shared values, hold space for those impacted by harm, and talk about the role each of us can play in creating a safer and more respectful campus.

Community members are encouraged to look out for one another and to reach out when support is needed. Students, faculty, and staff who have experienced or been affected by discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, retaliation, or incidents of bias are encouraged to connect with OPHD, who can provide you with resources and options, including supportive measures. You do not need to file a complaint to receive support, resources, or assistance. You may also file a separate criminal complaint with the Sonoma State University Police Department.  When there is an immediate safety concern, please contact the University Police Department.

Resources:

Members of our community may be looking for additional opportunities to learn, seek support, or report incidents. The following external resources may be helpful:

  • International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) – Resources for Holocaust education, remembrance, and understanding antisemitism: https://holocaustremembrance.com/
  • Report Campus Hate – A resource for reporting and responding to antisemitism and hate affecting Jewish students and campus communities: https://www.reportcampushate.org/
  • Anti-Defamation League (ADL) – A resource for reporting antisemitic, biased, or discriminatory incidents and accessing additional support: https://www.adl.org/report-incident
  • Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Bay Area – Educational resources and information related to antisemitism, Jewish communities, and responding to hate: https://jcrc.org/resources/

Thank you for helping to foster a Sonoma State community grounded in integrity, respect, responsibility, belonging, and care for one another.

Warmly,

Signature of Michael Spagna

Archive

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With Halloween peeking around a corner just ahead, it might be easy to get caught up in the rush of work and activities that mark the holidays. I want to make sure to pause for a moment and express my thanks for every Seawolf’s contribution to our campus and to the communities we serve.

Dear Seawolf Community,

The first weeks of the new academic year offer an opportunity to reflect on the core values that define the Sonoma State community and affirm our unwavering commitment to seeking common ground and the benefits of pluralistic dialogue in every aspect of our lives — academic, professional, and personal. 

Dear Sonoma State University Community,

Good evening Seawolves:

Please see the following letter from the Chancellor and the CSU presidents to all CSU students, and note Sonoma State’s addendum to the CSU Time, Place, and Manner policy: https://www.sonoma.edu/time-place-and-manner.

Greetings Seawolf community,

Over the past two weeks, I have taken time to meet with several key groups and individuals, including the President of the Associated Students, the Academic Senate leadership, SSU-Students for Justice in Palestine, the Jewish faculty affinity group, and various other stakeholders to listen, learn, and reflect, and develop a course of action for continued university dialogue about events in the Middle East, the harm violence causes to all commu

Good day Seawolves:

I reach out to all of you today in a spirit of hope and promise for the entire Sonoma State community, but also with a degree of sadness about the impact recent events have made on campus leadership.

Happy April to all,

There is so much happening at SSU right now. The air is warming while spring hovers, the campus is gearing up for Commencement, and so much of our work is gaining visibility – its educational and research impact emerging with clarity and cohesion.

Please join me in celebrating Women’s History Month and all that women have created, accomplished, and contributed to all of our lives. Sonoma State University is no exception. While our first president was not a woman, Marjorie Downing Wagner, SSU’s third president, was one of the first woman presidents of a U.S. public college or university.

Happy February!

A point of pride for Sonoma State is the role our University plays not only in educating a diverse population of students, but also in being a community partner engaged in meeting the needs of the many stakeholders the University serves regionally, nationally, and around the world.