A message from the University Chaplain

This message was sent on behalf of University Chaplain Tim Auman.

Dear colleagues,

Many of us continue to process and struggle with the horrific news of the two mass shootings in less than two weeks. The deaths of so many children and their teachers in Uvalde, Texas, are devastating and unspeakable, compounded by grief for the lives lost in Buffalo at the hands of an assailant motivated by racism and white supremacy.

The ongoing pandemic and its intersections with these recent events have produced a spectrum of emotions – grief, anger, fear, distress and even numbness. I have heard from colleagues and experienced these feelings myself over the past few days.

Even as we recognize that there are no simple solutions, times like these urge us to lean on, and mutually reinforce, our Wake Forest community. I hope you will consider opportunities to reach out to those around you, to take care of one another, and to make use of the resources available to you.

Each of us grapples with tragedy and trauma in different ways. Davis Chapel will be available on Friday, May 27, at noon and on Wednesday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as a drop-in space for peaceful reflection. The Office of the Chaplain will also be available for students, faculty and staff at Davis Chapel during this time.

I close my note with a simple acknowledgment. Your presence on this campus is what makes Wake Forest a community. Even on the hardest of days, we are grounded by our mission of centering humanity. Let us continue to support one another in the days ahead.

Sincerely,

Tim Auman
University Chaplain