A Message About Recent Events in Buffalo and Laguna Woods

Dear members of the Emerson community,

Just a week after a glorious commencement ceremony, one of our most joyous community gatherings for our campus, I am stunned and heartbroken that we again have witnessed a mass shooting in our country at the hands of a white supremacist in Buffalo, NY, and then another, later this weekend, in Laguna Woods, CA.

Our community grieves for the families of the 10 innocent victims who died this weekend in Buffalo, and for those of the dead and wounded in Laguna Woods. 

Racially motivated hate crimes and gun violence in this country have become all too common and need to cease. We must find a way to address these notions of hate before another tragedy unfolds and more lives are destroyed. Emerson is in solidarity with efforts to combat the beliefs of white supremacy and to address the worsening issue of gun violence. 

I know these events impact all of us within the Emerson community, particularly community members of color who are more directly the targets of these heinous acts, and we must be supportive of each other and offer understanding and compassion.

If you, or someone you know, is in need of assistance, there are several resources on campus available to students, staff and faculty including the Office of Spiritual Life, the Employee Assistance Program and Emerson Counseling and Psychological Services.

Sincerely,

William P. Gilligan,

Interim President