The University of Florida Police Department on Thursday arrested an individual in connection with an incident of vandalization of the sign at the Institute of Black Culture on West University Avenue. This incident was the latest in a series of such acts involving this sign.

For more than 50 years, the Institute of Black Culture has been a home away from home for generations of Black students at the University of Florida. It was created to serve as a beacon of community, history, advocacy, and belonging on our campus, and as such, it must be celebrated and protected. Our university is home to a richly diverse student body, a place where everyone should feel a sense of safety and belonging. Therefore, we stand with all members of the Black community in strongly condemning the acts of vandalism against this cherished space and reaffirm our commitment to creating a long-term strategy of ensuring the UF community is one that celebrates inclusive excellence.