Dear Union Alumni,
Please see below a note from President Jones to our community on yesterday's deeply troubling events at Columbia University.
Dear Union Community,
Given
the twisting of truth, outright lies, and relentlessly hateful speech
that our present social media culture encourages, I have become
increasingly less confident that writing public letters is a useful way
to achieve meaningful change. That said, today, as the sirens blared by
my window and hundreds of NYPD flood onto the scene at Columbia, I find
myself unable to hold back and not write to you.
First,
I am writing to make sure that everyone at Union knows that a wide
range of support is here for any student, staff, or faculty who are in
need of support. This is a horrible, awful day in the midst of
ravaging, cruel times. It breaks us all. Please do not be afraid to
reach out.
Second,
on behalf of Union, I want to reaffirm what I hope everyone at Union
knows. We have never and will never take the actions that occurred
today, including to some of our students. Whatever our differences, all
of your voices and values are too important to me and to Union to shove
them away and dispose of them. I firmly believe campuses need to be
places where lively, rigorous debate happens, where we struggle together
to find better ways to live together on this planet, and where students
have the chance to find and strengthen their voices, experience the
power of collective action, and learn to be passionate, engaged
citizens, particularly working alongside those with limited power who
suffer under the crushing force of unjust policies, structures, and
actions. These precious values do not flourish when protests are
squashed. Democracy itself cannot flourish.
Third,
Union has a strict policy that prohibits the NYPD from entering our
campus, except in the rare situation where a serious crime has been
committed. You have our commitment to enforcing this policy fully and
strongly. I have your back.
Fourth,
at Union, our long-standing commitment to social justice is manifest
daily in how we, as an institution, live out loud in a world that does
not share these values. It is not an easy thing to do but do it we
must, without arrogance or self-righteousness. We are far from perfect,
but with our strong hearts, critical minds, and activated bodies, we
can, through our example, be a force for change. Keep going.
Finally,
we are not and must not avert our eyes or turn our souls away from Gaza
and Israel and the oppressions crushing so many peoples’ lives around
the world, including right here in our own nation. To stay strong in
the face of such horrifying forces of death, we must remember the hard
truth that even when we disagree, we need each other; we need to gently
care for each other and try as hard as we can to not carelessly inflict
upon each other the very things we detest. I do not say this with a
sense of ease because it is hard work to be a community. But don’t give
up on it. The aching, yearning world cannot afford for you to do so.
Dear
friends, the tides of intolerance are turning against the humanity in
us all. I promise to stand beside you as we try to turn that tide
towards love, towards justice, towards the embrace of our fragile human
and planetary life. I am tired, sad, overwhelmed, and torn up inside,
as I am sure many of you are. I promise to be with you in your
weariness as well.
Peace,
President Jones