Dear Members of the George Washington University Community,
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the recent attack on Israel and the continued violence in the region. This tragic loss of life has profoundly impacted many members of our university, including those with family members or friends living in the area. I have been in touch with community leaders across our campuses and will continue to do so as events progress. We are actively working to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of those impacted directly and those affected more broadly.
Times of war are fraught with many difficult and complex emotions, and I recognize that we all may feel a combination of fear, anxiety and anger right now. GW is a university that thrives because of a rich diversity of identities, experiences and opinions. As we continue to express our thoughts and feelings, we must hold ourselves and our community to the highest standards of engagement, debate and civil discourse when gathering in person or conversing online.
Absolutely everyone deserves to feel welcome and safe on our campuses. Violence, discrimination or harassment against any member of the Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab or Muslim communities will not be tolerated at GW.
We are all a part of a shared community, and this is an important moment for us to come together. In the days ahead, I urge you to show compassion, patience and support for one another. As we hope for an end to this war, let us keep those suffering in our thoughts.
Different people experience these events in different ways, and I encourage you to utilize the resources that are available to all members of our community, including those available through the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement; Counseling and Psychological Services; Student Affairs; Human Resources; or Faculty Affairs.
Sincerely,
Ellen M. Granberg
President