A virtual staff meeting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was hacked Tuesday by individuals believed to be external to campus, according to school officials.
The hack happened during the University Staff Senate meeting at about 10 a.m. The incident was a “direct attack on university values,” according to an email sent to campus members.
Hackers “committed a series of vile and deeply offensive acts, including using racist, homophobic and antisemitic language and sexually explicit behavior and images,” the email says. “These intrusions were shocking and deeply upsetting for all who witnessed them.”
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Campus officials are working with UWM police, the information and technology department, and the Office of Equal Opportunity & Civil Rights to investigate the incident.
“We must ensure that all members of our community can participate in university life without fear of harassment or harm,” school officials said.
Employees who attended the Senate meeting are being offered group debriefing sessions later Tuesday and on Wednesday through the UWM Employee Assistance Program.
The University Staff Senate represents the university staff members and consists of 40 elected staff and the University Committee.
According to Tuesday’s agenda, the two-hour meeting was supposed to feature updates from UWM’s new Chancellor Thomas Gibson and the provost along with a budget update and committee reports.
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