October 17, 2023 

FWD: Community Updates

Dear Parents and Families,

The following message from Dean of Students Camille Lizarríbar was sent to students today.

All the best,

Student Life Team

Dear Student,

The last ten days have been challenging, and it seems that for now it will continue to be a difficult and volatile time. Emotions are running high on campus, in Greater Boston, and around the world. I write to reassure each and every one of you that your safety and wellbeing are the university’s foremost priorities. 

One of the biggest hurdles in this moment is that, at a time when we may need the solace of connection, the events taking place have led to our community feeling fractured, reflecting the same fissures of the world outside our campus. That, in turn, can make us feel vulnerable and isolated, and pushes us further apart.

Difficult as it may be, this is a moment when we encourage everyone to summon up their capacity to listen, to be empathetic, and to extend to others the respect and dignity they may want for themselves. And as global citizens living within our university’s multicultural community, we encourage everyone to monitor, examine, and discuss world events respectfully, peacefully, and in ways that demonstrate your personal leadership, compassion, and integrity.

I understand that we are surrounded by fraught communications that sow discord and distrust, and for some, dialogue may seem like an impossible request right now. Yet it is precisely in moments of extreme hardship when dialogue is most valuable. Painful and flawed as it may sometimes be, it is the only way in which we may understand our differences and recognize the values that unite us as a community.

We know that for many there is a general sense of anxiety and concern about physical safety. To enhance community safety, we are taking a number of precautions. First, you will notice that Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) have increased their patrols on campus. They are working closely with other local law enforcement agencies to create awareness and coordinate security responses as needed in our host communities. They are not present to monitor people or events, but to protect the community, especially because of the additional attention that higher education institutions are receiving from others.

I want to acknowledge that there are members of our community who may feel more vulnerable given the increased presence of TUPD. And I also want to emphasize that TUPD is committed to serving and keeping all members of our community physically safe.

In addition to our community’s physical safety, all of our resources for support are working on the community’s behalf. If you have any personal concerns or at any time feel uncomfortable, please know that you can reach out to the Dean of Students Office and to the many people on our campus that support your wellbeing, such as Student Support, Ears for Peers, CMHS, DSDI, the International Center, and the Chaplaincy, to name a few. If you have immediate concerns about your physical safety or that of others, please do not hesitate to contact TUPD. 

I also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the guidelines regarding events and demonstrations. These guidelines are another way in which we are able to support students and also keep our community safe.

Student organizations are required to register their events with the Office of Campus Life. If a meeting or event will touch on sensitive or difficult issues, we strongly recommend that you review our guidelines for organizing such meetings safely and responsibly.

Protests and demonstrations on campus are exempt from the event registration process that is otherwise required of all student events. Nevertheless, students are highly encouraged to register their planned protests and demonstrations with the Office for Campus Life (OCL) so that the university can provide event and logistical support and TUPD can provide security. 

Active citizenship, including exercising free speech and engaging in protests, gatherings, and demonstrations, is a vital part of the Tufts community. We encourage you to read the Trustee Declaration on Freedom of Expression at Tufts University.

Students engaging in protests, gatherings, and demonstrations are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with all applicable Tufts policies, safety requirements, and local, state, and federal law.

Relevant Tufts policies include, but are not limited to, the following parts of the Student Code of Conduct:

Students are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students Office with questions about how these policies (which apply to all Tufts activities and community members), may relate to a specific gathering, protest, or demonstration being planned.

Please remember that there are many staff and administrators here to support you personally through these extremely difficult times. There are many resources available to you and we encourage you to reach out to us with any concerns you may have.

Dean L 

Camille Lizarríbar, JD, PhD
Dean of Students and Chief Student Life Officer for AS&E