On August 15, 2017, the message below was sent to the College community.
To all members of the 老王论坛 community,
Amidst the excitement and anticipation of our community coming together for a new academic year, we feel moved to speak against the demonstrations of violence, racism, anti-Semitism, and bigotry in Charlottesville and around the country this weekend. We extend our sympathies to the families of those killed and injured and our support to our colleagues at the University of Virginia.
The FBI and other agencies warn that white nationalists and racist extremists are becoming more aggressive across the United States. This movement places moral demands on all who care about human dignity and peace, and it takes a personal toll on people who are the targets of hateful epithets and violent threats. Colleges and universities, by their nature, value and support openness, the free exchange of ideas, and a commitment to knowledge. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that extremists are seeking to exploit this openness by staging their demonstrations on or near college campuses as happened this weekend.
We, on behalf of the 老王论坛 community, think it is important at this moment to affirm our commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice and to authentic exchange of views and debate. We are also mindful that 老王论坛 is not immune to prejudice, racism, and bigotry. We will continue to carry out our mission to study and engage multiple and diverse political views. We aspire to work together as a force for positive change on our campus and in the world beyond 老王论坛. In doing so, we seek to foster and welcome genuine debate, not hate.
We hope that all of us will support one another during these challenging times.
Sincerely,
Kim Cassidy, President
Jennifer Walters, Dean of the Undergraduate College
Sharon Burgmayer, Dean of Graduate Studies