Dear Loyola Community,
I write to you today with a heavy heart. We, as a campus community, are witnessing the events in Israel and Gaza and mourning the death and destruction. Many of us are understandably worried and hurt. The members of our community with family in the impacted war zones report that they all are currently safe. Let’s continue to pray for safety and peace for them.
I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm the values that define us as a Catholic, Jesuit community – a commitment to peace, cura personalis or care for the whole person, and respectful dialogue. In all times, but especially times like these, the role of the university is to educate and foster an inclusive and supportive environment that nurtures student expression.
Here at Loyola, we are committed to these three principles to guide our next steps:
- Commitment to Respectful Dialogue: Our strength as a Jesuit institution lies in our ability to create the safe space to engage in meaningful intellectual discourse. It is through conversations with others that we expand our horizons and deepen our understanding.We stand firmly against hate speech and violence, and we want to ensure that our community remains a safe space for all.
- Commitment to Academic Freedom: This fundamental principle is essential in the life of the academy so our faculty can pursue the truth. Even if, and especially when, the truth is unpopular.
- Commitment to Gratitude: At the heart of our Ignatian values is the concept of gratitude. I urge you to take note of events like our recent prayer vigil (the service begins at 13:45), where people of various faiths stood together in solidarity against violence and war, with a shared hope for peace. We can express our gratitude for these powerful moments of unity.
I encourage all of you to take time this weekend for prayer or reflection. In the spirit of empathy and unity, may we be guided by our mission statement, which reminds us that we are called to pursue truth, wisdom, and virtue, and work towards a more just world. Let us honor and support one another during these challenging times.
Peace and blessings,
Dr. Xavier Cole
President
Justin Daffron, SJ, PhD
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Strategy
