Dear Students and Colleagues:
I write today to share a brief note of gratitude to those within our community who helped ensure that all participants’ safety and rights were protected during the event organized yesterday by our Jewish Student Union and the corresponding counter demonstration. Among the many who are deserving of thanks:
- Student leaders within the Jewish Student Union and the organized protest, who worked cooperatively with campus leadership in their preparations and complied with campus policies in their conduct;
- University Police Department personnel and their partners in regional and state agencies, who demonstrated utmost professionalism and adherence to best practices in community policing before, during and after yesterday’s event;
- Faculty and staff colleagues who lent time and energy to planning and operations, including many who endured the poor weather to provide support on the scene and help ensure that all participating students had opportunities for their voices to be heard.
I shared thoughts earlier this week about how difficult it can be for a diverse campus community to come together and have these conversations in a way that recognizes and respects one another’s dignity and humanity, even while deeply disagreeing on position. And yet, as a public institution of higher education, bound by both the First Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, we have been entrusted with the responsibility to create conditions where these conversations can safely take place and dissenting viewpoints can be expressed. This important work would not be possible without individual acts of integrity and grace. Again, I offer sincere thanks to those who made such contributions this week.
Darrell P. Wheeler
President
