To the university community:

Violence is never the answer.

Yet today our campus communities are reeling in the wake of the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists on Israeli citizens and the immense loss of civilian lives.

This violence has caused profound pain within the internationally and culturally diverse University of Michigan community. It is almost certain that more innocent civilians will lose their lives as the fighting escalates.

Earlier today I began reaching out to the leaders of the major universities in Israel – Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, Technion, Weizmann, and Ben Gurion – to express my deep concern for the students, faculty and staff at these world-class institutions, all of which the University of Michigan has well-established joint research relationships. I also reaffirmed our steadfast commitment to our work with these universities.

Acts of violence halfway around the globe can seem distant and removed from Ann Arbor, Dearborn or Flint. But we know our campuses are richly diverse communities where people of many faiths and backgrounds join together to live, learn and address some of the most complex issues facing the world today. That’s what we do as a major research institution that draws students from nearly every state in our nation as well as 125 nations globally.

Many members of our university community are personally affected by these events, and we encourage students to be conscious, kind and compassionate to their peers during this difficult time. We encourage faculty and staff to demonstrate understanding and accommodation for those affected by this violence.

We remain committed to the values we cherish at U-M: equity, inclusion, fair treatment for all and respect for our differences. Together, we can support our entire community through acts of unity and community and a renewed commitment to working together toward a common goal – making the world we live in a better place for all. 

We also encourage any community member to make use of the numerous available resources, listed below, to support your well-being during these very trying times.

Santa J. Ono
President

Support resources:

• Dean of Students Office: This office regularly assists students who are experiencing situations that may be interrupting their academic and campus life. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Email: deanofstudents@umich.edu; phone:734-764-7420.

• International Center: Information and resources for international students regarding their immigration and visa-related needs and challenges, and any travel-related concerns. Call 734-764-9310 or email at icenter@umich.edu.

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), call 734-764-8312, email caps-uofm@umich.edu or visit caps.umich.edu.

• Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO), call (734) 936-8660, email fascco@umich.edu or visit myumi.ch/6N53j.

• Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience, call 734-763-5409, email counseling@med.umich.edu or visit myumi.ch/qAPVQ.