Newsroom Homepage    Link this way

spacer
About HACC    Link this way
spacer
Calendar of Events    Link this way
spacer
Enrollment Reports    Link this way
spacer
Media Requests    Link this way
spacer
News Releases    Link this way
spacer





Submit

HACC Heroes


Follow HACC News

FacebookTwitterInstagram
flickrLinked InYoutube

Other Top Stories

HACC's 41st Wildwood Writers’ Festival
Local award-winning writers, community members, HACC students and alumni engaged with the public and celebrated the art of writing during the 41st annual Wildwood Writers’ Festival on March 23, 2023, at the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College. 

 

More News Releases


Print Friendly Version Convert to PDF
23 April 2018

Employees and Students Exemplify HACC’s Culture of Inclusivity During Demonstration by Hate Group

By John J. “Ski” Sygielski
HACC President
 
HARRISBURG, Pa. – A hate group demonstrated on the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, on April 17, 2018.
 
We identified this group as a hate group, because they meet the definition set by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an organization “that vilifies others because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
 
The safety of all students, employees and visitors on our campuses is always our top priority.
 
We are proud of the students and employees who demonstrated HACC’s core values of integrity, collegiality, excellence and trust during this unfortunate situation.
 
HACC is a public institution that recognizes the rights of individuals and groups to exercise freedom of speech. While the vile, vulgar, hateful and bigoted rhetoric did not meet the standards of the College, we did uphold their freedom of speech. In accordance with our College policies and past practices, we have designated a visible space on each campus, where groups are permitted to express their views freely, so long as their protected free speech does not veer into the territory of “fighting” words or words which are designed to elicit a violent reaction. We closely monitored the group’s interaction with students, employees and visitors to ensure that their rhetoric did not cross the line into harassment and violence.
 
In this instance, no acts of violence were committed. In the event that a demonstration becomes violent, HACC’s Public Safety and Security officers will take immediate and appropriate action.  
 
I know that the vast majority of the College community agrees that our diversity is a strength and contributes to providing a high-quality education. The College is committed to creating a more inclusive environment where people from all walks of life feel that they belong. No demonstrations or acts of protest by any group will change that.
 
Thank you for supporting HACC.
 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers over 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.
 
-30-

Contact(s):
For more information, please contact newsroom@hacc.edu.
 

< back
Spacer
TEKgroup International, Inc. Contact Us | Locations | Employment | Site Map | Antidiscrimination Policy | Security | myHACC
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg PA 17110 (800) ABC-HACC   .:.  © 1996- 2023 all rights reserved