Message from President Fuchs regarding monument vandalism

President Kent Fuchs
November 4, 2022

We learned this week that the National Pan-Hellenic Council Garden on the University of Florida campus had been vandalized, with letters removed from four of the nine monuments honoring Black fraternities and sororities chartered at UF that are celebrated by the garden. This is the third such incident since the garden near the north end of the Reitz Union North Lawn was officially opened in January 2021. As a law enforcement investigation continues and as additional security measure are put into place, we affirm our support for Black fraternities and sororities, Black organizations and students, and for all members of our richly diverse university community. The garden is a cherished tribute to the heritage and legacies of the “Divine Nine” Black fraternities and sororities and their role in representing and supporting Black students at UF. We condemn the acts against it and will work for the perpetrators to be found and swiftly brought to justice.