Dear Viterbo Alumni: 

Viterbo experienced a fire early Sunday morning (April 18) in a Marian Hall lounge that resulted in the subsequent arrest of the student who is believed to be responsible. A fire in a residence hall is a very serious incident that put the safety of others at risk. We are moving forward with the campus judicial process outlined in the student handbook. The student also faces criminal charges that will proceed through the criminal justice system.

We are investigating if there is any connection between this fire and some racist messages written on residence hall doors earlier this semester. We have enlisted the services of an FBI trained and certified forensic handwriting analyst and continue to work closely with local law enforcement as part of this semester-long inquiry. There is also a separate ongoing investigation of an incident of hateful and threatening language directed toward an LGBTQ+ student in a residence hall several weeks ago. We want both investigations to be thorough and respectful of the rights of our students.

These incidents and listening sessions with students and employees that followed remind us that we must continue to strengthen the inclusive and welcoming environment at Viterbo. The university’s Franciscan values and our love for each and every member of our community define us as an institution, and will guide us as we move forward.   
 
Glena Temple, Ph.D.
Viterbo University President