Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
There is no place for hate in our community. The vandalism that took place this past weekend at the Tau Kappa Epsilon’s (TKE) on-campus housing, which included the desecration of a replica Torah scroll, was an unmistakable message of antisemitism and hate, recalling the long history of burning and desecration of the Jewish holy books. The vandalism and its timing recalls a chilling moment in history—Kristallnacht, November 9, 1938—in which synagogues and Torah scrolls were destroyed and set on fire. We must not forget this history. We join President LeBlanc in strongly condemning these acts and stand in solidarity with Jewish members of our community.
As a school of international affairs, we cannot overlook the fact that there has been an increase in antisemitic violence globally. Our community must be a refuge from hate, a space where each member of our community can live, learn, and thrive without fear and discrimination, so we can continue to educate the next generation of international affairs leaders prepared for the diverse world into which they will graduate.
This incident serves as a reminder of our collective commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our school, on our campus, and in our communities. Please continue to report these acts of hatred. We also encourage you to explore GW’s resources on antisemitism.
To Jewish members of the Elliott School community, we are here for you. Let’s continue to check on each other, be kind, and take advantage of the university’s many resources dedicated to health and well-being.
Alyssa Ayres, Dean
James Foster, Vice Dean
Jonathan Walker, Senior Assistant Dean
