Smith, in the Moment
Responding to Grief: A Message from President Willie-LeBreton
As students and faculty returned to campus from Fall Recess, I shared this letter with them. My primary responsibility and concern is the well-being of our campus community. The painful and devastating violence in Israel and Gaza demands that we provide emotional support and safety for our students, staff, and faculty, and deserves the response a college campus can offer—study, analysis, dialogue, even disagreement. In this moment, Jewish and Palestinian students, staff, and faculty, in particular, are experiencing grief, fear, pain, and anger. I call on every member of our community to hold space for them.