DEARBORN -The
University of Michigan-Dearborn is making it clear that its chancellor’s open
letter to faculty and students condemning Trump is not a reflection of the
university’s views.

University officials
posted the Dec. 9 letter on its website after an undated
copy was circulated on social media, which the university said had “distorted”
Chancellor Daniel Little’s message to students and employees.

“The letter does not
advocate for or against a specific presidential candidate. The letter was
written in response to growing bigotry against Muslim Americans,” UM Dearborn wrote in a Tuesday statement on
its website.

Little wrote the letter
a day after Trump proposed a temporary ban on Muslims immigrating into the
United States in the wake of a deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino,
California by two suspects who sympathized with the Islamic State terror group.

“This week I know many
of us were shocked at the offensive words and proposals that presidential
candidate Donald trump advanced in dealing with the threat of terrorism in
America,” Little wrote. “His comments serve as a reminder to all of us that
there is a virulent strand of anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States. World
leaders, Republican and Democratic presidential candidates and many Americans
across the country denounced Mr. Trump’s remarks and proposed actions.”

UM Dearborn is located
in one the most heavily populated cities of individuals of Arab descent in the
country. About 26 percent of the 9,300-student university are students of
color.

Little did not comment
further on Trump’s candidacy in the letter and instead wrote about the
university’s efforts “to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for
faculty, staff and students.”

“I encourage all of you
who care about equality, inclusiveness and mutaul respect to stand up against
hate and fear and to find ways of counteracting negative and hurtful words and
actions against the Muslim community and all communities on our campus, in our
neighborhoods and throughout the country and world,” Little wrote.