In an email to campus on Dec. 20, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman issued the following message.

“Dear Members of the University Community:

As the semester (and 2013) comes to an end I wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

There was much accomplished during the last semester and also some disappointments. The use of offensive language and insensitive racial imitation remains a concern and certainly did not place the campus in the best light. I know other campuses, indeed other institutions, face such events from time to time and we are obviously not immune. I want to emphasize that the administration is taking these events seriously and we are formulating a plan to address these issues. Some initiatives are underway, others are being explored, and I hope to report to all of you in January on the full scope of what we propose. There will be opportunities for campus conversations relative to our proposals and we will be open to suggestions.

We will continue to address these issues because it is part of being a public, land-grant university, one that prepares students to flourish in a society where everyone has a real chance to be successful. We will do it with the same confidence and inspiration that has allowed us, working together, to make such progress in so many areas over the last few years.

I hope all of you have the time over the break to refresh and to reenergize as we return to the important work of continuing to build a great university.

Harvey”