Recently, some members of the University of Michigan community have been visited at night by anonymous groups who reportedly banged on doors, shined lights through windows, made loud noises, and otherwise sought to intimidate residents who were believed to be associated with the UM-LANL computing center (the groups were heard to chant “Stop the datacenter!”). UM community members express a broad range of views about the center, but whatever the underlying concerns, the targeting of individuals with threatening and abusive behavior is inimical to democracy and academic values. As representatives of the Faculty Senate, SACUA supports freedom of expression and peaceful protest, but categorically condemns violence, threats, intimidation, doxxing, and harassment. As a practical matter, research suggests that the latter can be counterproductive even for the goals of persuasion or protest.
The identities of the perpetrators are unknown at this time, and we make no assumptions about them. Meanwhile, SACUA urges all members of the university community to re-commit to and uphold peaceful means of expression, debate, and protest. To the extent we have differences, they should be addressed through deliberation and nonviolent action.
Approved by the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) on September 9, 2026