President Elam reminds us of Occidental's culture of care, which foregrounds compassion and acknowledges the fact that we rely on each other for mutual comfort in difficult times.
Dear º£½ÇÉçÇø Community,
Almost one week has passed since Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks and Israel’s declaration of war that followed. Let me affirm that this administration condemns the unspeakable atrocities committed by Hamas. The world is watching as a humanitarian catastrophe worsens in Gaza. This tragedy today is rooted in long histories, conjuring both painful memories and present despair, suffering, and senseless death.
As we know well, students on college campuses in the United States are not immune from the effects of this conflict. Here at Occidental, I have been moved by the many expressions of concern from trustees, parents, and students worried about the global rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment, and some students have confided that they feel afraid and unsafe on campus. Social media posts have further sparked feelings of anger and anxiety. Many students and members of our community are hurting and I want to reiterate that we, as the leadership of the College, empathize with you and care for the safety and well-being of all of our students.
At times like this, we must rely on our culture of care. The Occidental culture of care foregrounds compassion and acknowledges the fact that we rely on each other for mutual comfort in difficult times. The culture of care confirms our principles, asserts our values, condemns hate, and reflects our aspirations for the community we strive to be.
º£½ÇÉçÇø faculty and staff are essential partners in cultivating this culture, and in finding ways to engage in dialogue across differences, to study and learn more about this crisis, and to build mutual respect. Events such as today’s interfaith vigil provide a chance to listen actively and to mourn collectively for the many innocent souls lost in Israel and Palestine.
Moving forward, we will be holding substantive dialogues in and out of the classroom and working directly with individual students and student groups about their concerns and well-being. Because of our particular history and mission, I truly believe Occidental is uniquely positioned to foster this kind of community.
Sincerely,
President Elam