Reaffirming Our Commitment to Community

October 18, 2023

Members of the Rutgers Community:

As the war in the Middle East continues, intense debates, protests, and counterprotests are taking place in communities across our country, including here at Rutgers. Emotions remain understandably raw, and as we watch this tragedy unfold thousands of miles away, we are feeling the impact here at home.

Last night I attended a student vigil with our Muslim community. My heart is heavy. I have seen grief on so many of the faces of our Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab students, and I have seen grief on so many of the faces of our Jewish and Israeli students. Many in our community have told me they feel unheard and unsafe. Let me be clear: I have heard you and I am committed to your safety.

The fact that our community has gathered at multiple vigils in the last week speaks to the depth of the sorrow we are experiencing and the urgent need for compassion and empathy. Every innocent life lost is a profound tragedy.

In these challenging times, it is vital that we come together to support one another, to listen to each other’s experiences and perspectives, and to engage in dialogue that fosters understanding. We must stand against hate in all its forms, including Islamophobia and antisemitism, and strive to be a safe and supportive place for our students, faculty, and staff.

I am confident that, together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment at Rutgers. Through a collective commitment to empathy and respect, we can overcome challenges and continue to thrive as a community that values and celebrates our differences.

Here at Rutgers, we adhere to the principles of free speech and academic freedom. All members of our community—our faculty, students, alumni, and staff—are free to express their viewpoints in public forums as private citizens, including viewpoints that the University itself may not share. And our faculty have the right, in the discharge of their duties, to express their ideas and to challenge the ideas of others without fear of retribution.

More than ever in this difficult time, let us reaffirm our commitment to our university community.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor