Dear campus community,
This has been a difficult fall semester as many students and student groups, faculty, and staff I have engaged with have shared the profound ways in which they have experienced the ongoing violence unfolding in Israel and Gaza. The shooting of three young Palestinian men near our campus reminds us of the very real local impact of global events, and has left us feeling anger, pain, and even fear. Given the vulnerability that many in our community are feeling, we have been vigilant and remain deeply committed to campus safety. If you need individual assistance, please reach out to any of the campus resources listed below to help cope in constructive ways that support your wellbeing.
It is my heartfelt hope that members of the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ community can express themselves respectfully, but even when that is difficult, I must make clear that antisemitic, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian behavior have no place in our campus community and are contrary to Our Common Ground values. We support the rights of each student, faculty, and staff member to engage in protected forms of expression. And with this right comes the responsibility to express viewpoints, support, and solidarity without targeting or threatening others.
Statements and conduct that harass and threaten members of the campus community because of their actual or perceived national origin, including their shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, violate university policy (pdf). Conduct that intentionally places members of our campus in fear for their safety, or which unreasonably interferes with their ability to fully express their identity, is not acceptable and is subject to university discipline. Anyone who believes they are the target of threats or harassment is encouraged to .
I hear and feel the hurt, the frustration, and the worry so many of you have expressed. As a community, I know we can find ways to listen to and learn from one another, remain open to ideas and perspectives different from our own, and commit to respectful dialogue that focuses on building understanding and care for one another.
On the Division of Safety and Compliance website you can find that have been organized in the past several weeks. We will continue to work with those feeling unsafe on parking options, support club leaders to create thoughtful connections across different traditions, and continue faculty panels next semester to educate our community on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Further, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Division will be providing campus offerings on Islamophobia and antisemitism in January/February.
Sincerely,
Patty Prelock
Provost and Senior Vice President
Support for Students:
Vice Provost and Dean of Students Office: 802-656-3380 / studentaffairs@uvm.edu
Counseling and Psychiatry Services: 802-656-3340 Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: 802-656-8426 / diversity@uvm.edu
Office of International Education: 802-656-4296 / internationalstudents@uvm.edu
*Students may also reach out to the dean’s office of their school or college
Support for Faculty and Staff:
Employee Assistance Program: 866-660-9533