Vincent Boudreau
Dear Campus Community,
The events of this past weekend marked a sharp and brutal escalation in a conflict that has simmered between Israel and Palestinians for decades. The attack on Israel by Hamas, by primarily targeting civilian Israeli populations, represents an unprecedented and intolerable escalation that we condemn.
As news reaches us from the region I hope that we can be united in mourning the civilian toll this war will take, wherever our political sympathies lie.
It is not a college administration’s foremost charge to resolve international conflict, but rather to advance human understanding, and that means preserving our ability to respectfully interact with one another, even when encountering ideas with which we profoundly disagree. We preside over these interactions in the conviction that they are necessary for individual education and collective human progress. But we are also charged with ensuring the safety and well-being of each member of the campus. Whatever you believe about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, recognize that members of our campus community may be deeply hurt, fearful, or angry.
I am committed to promoting an environment that protects a campus community in which I deeply believe. But mostly I want to urge us all to rely on the resources of this institution--scholarly expertise that can help us sort through the difficult issues unfolding in the Middle East, counseling and wellness resources that can help you cope with anger and stress, and the deep reserves of solidarity, friendship and support that have always made our campus a model of what our larger society should look like.
Sincerely,
Vince Boudreau
President
Below please find a link to a message from CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodriguez
https://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2023/10/09/statement-from-cuny-chancellor-felix-v-matos-rodriguez-2/