President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: Reflections on a Difficult Week
March 20, 2019
I write to you as many of you look forward to a break in the regular schedule of classes. I also expect that many of you, like me, are still processing the events of last week, especially another horrific killing of unarmed people, this time in a house of worship for Muslims in New Zealand.
By the end of the week, I found myself tongue-tied, but was inspired to write after being jolted to respond by numerous reminders of the college’s greater purpose and impact—news of a new grant to support scientific research, a riveting lecture organized by the history department, and an inspiring set of student musical performances on Friday—and its dedication to promoting justice, beauty, and solutions to difficult human problems.
In these moments, I was reminded that so many of the values this community works to articulate and support, especially those relating to the inclusion of people from backgrounds traditionally excluded from opportunity at places like Reed, demand our constant vigilance and attention. Further, that those with personal experience of violence and exclusion will have immediate and visceral reactions to terrifying events like the acts of terrorism in New Zealand. And so it is urgent for me and for us to condemn both this violence and the xenophobic ideology that it represents.
I write with sympathy for those frightened, especially our Muslim community members, to remind you of resources for support for students and to ask for your help in sustaining our commitments to access and inclusion on campus and beyond.
Hugh Porter
Acting President
Reed College