A message from Dean of Students Adam Goldstein and Interim Chief Diversity Officer José Villalba
This message was emailed by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations to students, faculty and staff on Oct. 3 on behalf of Dean of Students Adam Goldstein and Interim Chief Diversity Officer José Villalba:
Dear Wake Forest Students, Faculty and Staff,
As a follow-up to President Hatch’s acknowledgement and condolences for those impacted by the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, we wanted to make sure the entire campus community received the supportive message below written by James Raper, director of the University Counseling Center.
We anticipate The Office of the Dean of Students, Office of the Chaplain, student organizations and others will share information soon about plans currently in the works for recognizing the Las Vegas incident.
Adam Goldstein
Dean of Students
José Villalba
Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Look for helpers
The heartbreaking news of a mass shooting in Las Vegas drives me to reaffirm our role as being a supportive resource to the WFU community. You do not need to identify as a survivor or know a victim of violence to experience the emotional and physical effects of violent action. The impact of violence and terror can be immediate for some, and for others can not appear until some time has passed. For some, talking about the event, acknowledging the resulting feelings, and focusing on helping others can assist with reducing the negative emotional impact of violence. Talking with a mental health professional can also be a useful step in moving through the pain.
Our mental health services are available for all WFU students, and we invite you to view our Diversity Statement as one affirmation of our commitment to providing nonjudgmental listening and care. We also remain available as colleagues to Wake Forest staff and faculty who would benefit from consultation as we all continue the work of supporting one another and growing together.
Categories: Inside WFU, University Announcement
A message from President Hatch regarding equity and inclusion
This is a message e-mailed by President Hatch to faculty, students and staff today:
Dear Members of the Wake Forest Community,
Colleges and universities have been in the national spotlight this week as students, faculty and staff at Missouri, Yale, Ithaca and other institutions have protested and demanded corrective action against bigotry, racism and injustice.
If you are feeling similar pain and tension on our campus, you are not alone. If you think the pain and tension experienced by others – at Wake Forest and on campuses across the country – do not affect you, I invite you to reconsider. As a nation and as a community of higher learning, we must make progress in handling issues of diversity, inclusion and equity.
Wake Forest’s commitment to an equitable and inclusive campus culture is unwavering. Making that a reality for everyone is overdue. I am, however, encouraged by the efforts of countless University leaders, faculty, staff and students.
Today in Washington, D.C., Wake Forest is co-hosting a daylong summit with the White House Council on Women and Girls on Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color. This morning, Provost Rogan Kersh announced that Wake Forest is part of a collaborative that has committed $18 million to support and improve related academic research. I encourage you to read more about this significant step toward closing the research deficit and its implications for policymaking.
Categories: University Announcement
