KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee will set up a livestream at a rock that’s often painted by students to promote events, but was recently marred by an anti-Semitic message.
Knoxville campus Chancellor Donde Plowman Wednesday that the livestream feed will be made available for anyone to see, showing that the university community is taking collective responsibility for the Rock.
“We are committed to being a campus where everyone matters and everyone belongs, a campus where love will never be replaced by words or actions of hate,” Plowman wrote. “Hate aimed at one Vol is aimed at all Vols, and we are committed to responding decisively and peacefully as a Volunteer community.”
Plowman said that university police have increased patrols at the campus landmark, adding that they believe the people responsible for the hate speech written there are not students or members of the campus community.
The university has also revised its campus space rental policy to restrict rentals to unaffiliated third parties.
Additionally, a new group, programs and special lectures are in the works to further awareness.