A message of care and concern after recent acts of violence across the country
Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students Mona Hicks and Associate Vice Provost for Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning Samuel Santos Jr. remind students of campus resources and support following multiple acts of violence across the country during the past few weeks.
Dear students,
As fall break begins, we hope you are taking the time and space needed to care for yourselves and each other. Managing school commitments, upholding responsibilities, and finding joy can be difficult in the fast-paced fall quarter. Additionally, during the past few weeks, there have been multiple acts of violence at the University of Idaho, University of Virginia, University of New Mexico, and most recently, in Colorado Springs, where members of the LGBTQIA+ community were targeted at Club Q. This particular act of violence came with heartbreaking timing, on the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
These events are especially saddening because they occurred while people were doing things we cherish, as a community that deeply values belonging, friendship, and learning. Many of us know the joy of gathering with friends in an affirming community, turning in for the night after an evening out, or going on a field trip with fellow students. Some of you may have been personally impacted. We are writing today to join you in mourning for the individuals whose lives were lost, and to acknowledge the grief and hurt you may be feeling.
We encourage you to connect with campus resources that might be helpful. Please check out the Mental Health Resources at Stanford (including virtual therapy), Resources for Our Communities, and Stanford Against Hate websites. For the LGBTQIA+ community at Stanford, both the Weiland Health Initiative (weilandhealth@stanford.edu) and Queer Student Resources (QSR) (queerstudentresources@stanford.edu or on Instagram) are available to help this week virtually and next week in person.
Some of you are here on campus with us during the break. Others have traveled to be with family and friends. We want you to know that wherever you are, if you need support, you are not alone. We are here for you, in person and virtually. May this week be restful, and we look forward to seeing all of you when classes resume on Monday.
Sincerely,
Mona Hicks
Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students
Samuel Santos Jr.
Associate Vice Provost for Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning