General Studies Lounge

As most of you now know, a terrible incident of bias occurred at
Teachers College yesterday, directed at a member of the faculty.
Teachers College is a cherished affiliate of Columbia University
with its own president, Susan Fuhrman, to whom I have offered our
support and assistance. We may be two independent institutions, but
we are one community; and we stand together in our commitment to
oppose the frightening sentiments that lay behind this act.

Tolerance and mutual respect are among the core values of our
diverse community, and all of us must confront acts of hate
whenever they occur within it. As I said last night, an attack on
the dignity of any member of our community is an assault on all of
us.

I will be meeting with student leaders this afternoon, and other
members of the administration will be communicating with faculty
and students in the coming days. Our mission as a university
includes addressing the most important and searing issues of our
time, and we have a particular obligation to respond forcefully to
events that affront our values.

Sincerely,