A Message regarding the senseless violence in New Zealand

A Message regarding the senseless violence in New Zealand
By Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Vice President, Division of Equity and Inclusion  and Dennis Galvan, Dean and Vice Provost, Division of Global Engagement
March 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Following the horrible, senseless violence in New Zealand, we felt it was important to reach out to the campus community. The University of Oregon stands in support of the Muslim community and the people of Christchurch in the aftermath of the shootings at three mosques. A hateful attack like this on any religious community is an attack on all of us. This is an affront to the fundamental values of diversity, inclusion, mutual respect, and human dignity that are central to our mission at the UO.

We remain committed to the work of developing courageous leadership, embedding equity and inclusion in our curriculum and research, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and respect for people of all faiths and nationalities through educational work against Islamophobia and inflammatory, racist rhetoric. We also encourage those in our community to engage in international education, which promotes greater awareness and cultural understanding through immersive opportunities at home and abroad.

We will continue to commit ourselves to building trust and understanding across all communities. Anyone who needs support is encouraged to reach out to the Division of Equity and Inclusion, International Student and Scholar Services within the Division of Global Engagement, the Division of Student Life and its many resources, or others on campus. We will continue to work with colleagues across campus to pursue multiple avenues by which we can lead and support efforts that counter violence against those in the Muslim community and others who are irrationally targeted.

Sincerely,Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Vice President, Division of Equity and Inclusion  and Dennis Galvan, Dean and Vice Provost, Division of Global Engagement

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