SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University President William Behre responded Wednesday to the defacing of a Black History Month poster on campus.

According to Behre's letter, the perpetrator wrote “hateful and race-baiting rhetoric” remarks on top of the poster.

In addition to a schedule of events, the poster showed a group of people with the most central figure holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign above their head.

Part of the defacing of the poster included the crossing out of “Black” and rewriting above it “All,” as well as several other offensive comments.

“It's impossible to understand what is in the heart of someone who spews such distasteful epitaphs,” Behre wrote. “Still, I am angry this happened and so very sorry for the anguish and pain that this person's actions have caused to our community as a whole, but especially to our African-American students, faculty and staff who were targeted.”

Behre said whoever wrote the remarks will be punished. He wrote that the university intends to do all it can to identify the perpetrator(s) and promised appropriate disciplinary sanctions.

“Your behavior has no place at Slippery Rock University,” Behre wrote in his letter to students, faculty and staff. “Your behavior was an act of cowardice and ignorance that will not be tolerated.”

Behre urged all students, especially those who do not identify as African-American, to attend one or more Black History Month events. He wrote that the best way for students to support victims is to take the opportunity to genuinely try to understand perspectives or experiences different from their own.

“If we are going to really do something to address ignorance, we have to arm ourselves with the truth,” Behre wrote, adding that “sometimes that is difficult and uncomfortable.”

Behre wrote the college hopes to combat such hate with growth through an open meeting that will include university and student leaders having a conversation about making the university more welcoming and safer for all students.

The gathering will be held at 8 p.m. Monday at Smith Student Center Theatre.