A Message to the Community – 3/27/24

To the Emerson community,

I would like to apologize to my fellow Emersonians for the stress and divisions our community has experienced in recent days and for the missed opportunities that could have prevented this from escalating. The arrest of the student protestors is inconsistent with our values and culture, and I appreciate the candid messages and conversations with many members of our community that have informed my understanding. 

This afternoon, the Office of Community Standards notified the students that the college is withdrawing all student conduct code charges related to Friday’s demonstration. I have begun reaching out to these 12 students to share my personal apology for their distress, and I hope to engage them as soon as possible. 

I am committed to listening and to open dialogue with all interested community members. We will use these discussions to identify concrete measures to heal, strengthen, and grow together as a community, learning from each other in the true spirit of collaboration, which is at the heart of Emerson’s values.

Sincerely,

Jay Bernhardt
President