As the war between Israel and Palestinian forces continued to escalate on Friday, UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz shared a message with the campus community promoting the university’s values and support resources for those struggling to cope with the unfolding violence overseas. He also stated that while discussions and emotional processing is encouraged, any violence or targeting of groups on campus is not.
Guskiewicz issued the statement on the heels of denouncing the acts of terror by Hamas fighters during the chancellor’s opening remarks at Thursday’s University Day ceremony. Around the same time, a demonstration took place at Wilson Library on UNC’s campus that resulted in tense interactions between those supporting Palestinians and protesting Israel’s violence against them and other campus community members who were pro-Israel. No arrests or injuries were reported from the event, but it highlighted how the global conflict was sparking strong emotions among some in the UNC community.
The chancellor did not directly address Thursday’s demonstration in his letter, but said community conversations between students, faculty, and staff have helped inform his leadership team on the myriad of concerns caused by the latest chapter in the Israel-Palestine relations. With that in mind, he said caring for the campus community’s safety is a top priority.
“As I have emphasized on several occasions, there is no place for antisemitism or prejudice on our campus,” said Guskiewicz. “Let me be clear – we will not stand for acts of violence on our campus. While we have a commitment to allow both internal and external groups to express their opinions under the First Amendment, we also strive to rise above hateful rhetoric and engage in civil discourse and educated debate. We should lead by example, in showing how people of different backgrounds and perspectives come together and truly listen and learn from each other in an environment where everyone feels safe and supported.”
Guskiewicz said he recognizes that the violence in Israel and Gaza impacts both UNC’s Jewish and Muslim community members in different ways. He pointed toward several campus groups for people to use for either emotional support or to learn more about the emotions around Israeli-Palestinian tensions like NC Hillel, the UNC Center for Jewish Studies and the UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies. The chancellor also suggested for those experiencing mental health affects from the conflict to explore the university’s resources for students, faculty, and staff on the the Heels Care network.
“I want to remind everyone,” Guskiewicz concluded, “that Carolina is a place where we strive to build our community together. We each have an important role to play in understanding the challenges facing our world and demonstrating compassion, empathy and understanding for one another. As we continue to witness the devastation in the region, please join me as we continue to hope for peace.”
The UNC chancellor’s full letter can be read here.
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