University Response to the Defacement of Spirit Rock

Over the past few days, we have experienced two incidents of defacement and vandalism on Spirit Rock. While Spirit Rock has long been intended as a space for free expression, these particular incidents have entailed intentional physical damage to University property. This kind of vandalism does not constitute protected speech and will not be tolerated, and cameras have been installed that are aimed at the rock. 

Furthermore, we have seen that these acts of vandalism were specifically directed at defacing a message about Black Lives Matter. As a public institution, the University embraces values of diversity and inclusivity as central to our educational mission, even as we are committed to protecting freedom of expression. We will continue to stand with our Black students, faculty and staff in seeking to address systemic racism, and we call upon our entire community to be part of that ongoing work.      

Jonathan Alger
President, James Madison University

Further Reading:

• July 2020: Task Force on Racial Equity
• July 2020: JMU Board of Visitors approves renaming three buildings named for Confederate leaders
• June 2020: Update on Building Names; Removing Confederate Names to Be Recommended to Board of Visitors
• June 2020: JMU honors Juneteenth as a state holiday
• June 2020: An Update on Racial Equity Actions and Campus Building Names
• June 2020: ‘March for Our Lives’ on JMU’s campus highlights racial injustices
• May 2020: Building a better tomorrow together