Provost: Heal ourselves, help others

This message was e-mailed to university students this afternoon by Interim Provost Gary Sandefur:

Dear Members of the University Community,

Two days have passed since the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. The nation has experienced a tragedy of horrific dimensions, but the people of New York, Washington, and the rest of the country have responded with acts of compassion, kindness, and heroism.

Members of the university community have also responded by giving blood, donating money, consoling and counseling one another, and with small acts of kindness to those they encounter and meet. Please continue to support each other and to honor the victims of the attack in these ways, and please continue to ask for help when you need it. The Dean of Students Office, 263-5700 continues to provide information and support, and anyone wishing to talk with a counselor should contact Counseling and Consultation Services at 905 University Ave., 265-5600.

As we move forward through the next several trying days, we must be wary of the lingering threats of this terrorist act. We must not allow this tragedy to break apart the threads of our community, which is our very source of strength in times such as these. Around the country, there have been reports of hatred and anger being directed at members of social and ethnic groups, simply because they may share a religion or ethnicity with those the media has defined as terrorists. We must remember that Muslim and Arab communities in the United States and throughout the world are as disturbed and upset by Tuesday’s events as anyone. Members of the Muslim and Arab communities at UW–Madison have shared their sorrow and sadness with their friends, roommates, and classmates. We are all a community, and now more than ever we must treat each other with consideration and respect. Terrorism seeks to punish the innocent, and anyone who harasses the Muslim or Arab members of our community commits the same act that they intend to deplore.

I ask that any student who has experienced or witnessed acts of harassment to contact the provost’s office, 262-1304.

We cannot forget Tuesday’s events, and nor should we. However, we can combat the effects of terrorism by not allowing it to paralyze our way of life. President Bush, Gov. McCallum, and UW System President Lyall have encouraged all of us to continue with our lives and strive to return to our normal routines. On the other hand, it is important that each of us do what we think is best to heal ourselves and to help those who are close to us. Chancellor Wiley and I are continuing to move the university forward. We have canceled some scheduled events and are considering how best to allow our community the space to grieve and reflect. Please consult the following Web site for the latest updates and schedules: http://www.news.wisc.edu/response.html.

We ask that each member of the university community — students, staff, and faculty — let their heart and conscience guide them as they decide how to teach their classes and how to spend their time.

Gary Sandefur
Interim Provost