Our hearts go out to the Muslim community, and to those whose lives have been shattered — yet again — by a senseless act of violence, this time in New Zealand. This extreme act of hatred is intolerable and unacceptable. It is antithetical to the values we hold dear: respect, inclusion, and social justice.
As campus leaders we reject this attack and denounce Islamic hate in the strongest terms. Sadly, we recognize we are working in a larger social context where hate exists. So we are speaking up.
Our commitment is to create an inclusive campus culture, and through the impact of our students, faculty, and staff, a world that values and supports every individual, no matter their religious beliefs. The recent Photovoice project about Muslim student experiences on our campus makes clear that our Muslim community does not always experience that support. Therefore, we must strive to improve the experience of our Muslim community. We plan to launch a broader conversation with our Muslim students next quarter, in which we will discuss steps we have already taken and the work that still needs to be done.
We speak now to reaffirm our commitment to our Muslim community and to call for social justice, respect, and acceptance. We stand in solidarity with our Muslim community here on campus, in the United States, and abroad.
We urge anyone impacted by this incident, directly or indirectly, to utilize our counseling resources. In addition to support services offered by staff in our colleges, Counseling and Psychological Services provides assistance for students. For employees, the Employee Assistance Program can provide counseling and support.
George Blumenthal, Chancellor
Marlene Tromp, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Jaye Padgett, Vice Provost for Student Success
Teresa Maria Linda Scholz, Campus Diversity Officer for Staff and Students
Garrett Naiman, Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students
