Dear Campus Community Members,
Far too frequently, we find ourselves — as a campus community and as a global community — outraged and in mourning in the wake of horrific acts of terror. We are again in this painful place following the devastating bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, which killed hundreds and injured hundreds more on a sacred day of celebration and observance.
I know the temptation can be great to become complacent or numbed by these tragedies. We must not only continue to resist that temptation, but redouble our efforts to find comfort and strength within our communities, to mourn the lives taken, and to renew our commitment to creating a space on our campus and within ourselves that honors and celebrates diverse expressions of spirituality.
I hope you will join with me and other members of our campus community at an ecumenical service of remembrance being held at Muller Chapel at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30. Organized by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the service will provide an opportunity to come together in solidarity, as we mourn our losses and offer prayers for an end to the fear and hatred at the root of such atrocious violence.
Whether it happens in our own community or a world away, the targeting of people based on their religious, cultural, political, or personal identity can never become acceptable.
Those who need assistance in caring for their needs and coping with tragedies such as these can always reach out to the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and our Center for Counseling and Psychological Services for support.
In the spirit of hope and healing,
Shirley M. Collado
President