Dear members of the campus community,
Too often I have felt compelled to reach out to you after heinous events have occurred in our nation. I find myself writing to you with a heavy heart once again.
I am sure you are all aware that eleven Jews were murdered on Saturday during their worship service in Pittsburgh. I share both the grief and the anger that so many of you feel over this tragic loss of lives. My heart aches especially for the Jewish members of our community. In the aftermath of such a horrific and senseless event, I ask all of you to be sensitive to one another and to support one another.
Coming together as a community is especially important at a time like this. The Judaic Studies Committee is planning a community-wide conversation about antisemitism on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in CUB 260. I hope that many of you will plan to attend this event to show your support for the Jewish members of our community, as well as to learn more about what we can do as individuals to eradicate antisemitism. In addition, Hillel plans a memorial vigil on the steps of PA Hall at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Finally, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will host open hours on Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for those who would like to gather for support.
In the face of this tragedy, let us find a way to do all that we can to lift up and live out our institutional values, most especially our belief in the worth and dignity of one another.
Sincerely,
Janet Morgan Riggs
President