UD responds to incidents of pride flags stolen from student neighborhood; ‘We condemn these thefts’

For the second time this school year, a pride flag was stolen from a house on University of Dayton’s campus, according to an email announcement shared with students and staff from a UD spokesperson.

>>Dayton City Commission to vote on Homefull’s plan grocery store, health facility

A lesbian pride flag was taken from the South Ally House in the south student neighborhood around 2 a.m., on Sunday, the spokesperson said.

The South Ally House has been a target for these kinds of thefts over the past few years, the spokesperson said.

“This contributes to the feeling of being unsafe or unwelcome for members of the LGBTQ+ community and affects everyone on our campus,” the spokesperson said in the email announcement.

>>Ohio Secretary of State’s Office reports early voting numbers

This incident follows a previous theft that occurred over fall break in which a progress and aromatic pride flag were stolen, according to the email announcement.

The President of the University, Eric Spina, said in the announcement that these thefts are not indicative of the campus community as a whole.

>>American Heart Association names new Dayton executive director

“As a Catholic and Marianist university, we believe every person has innate dignity. Our community is one that welcomes and supports people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer,” President Spina said. “We condemn these thefts, and will continue to work toward our goal of fostering an environment where all LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe, respected, valued and included as important members of our community.”