On Yesterday's Tragedy in Pittsburgh

October 28, 2018

Dear Columbia Community,

We are deeply saddened by the horrific Anti-Semitic attack on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday morning. Violence in our nation’s houses of worship is an affront to the freedoms our community holds dear. We stand strongly against yesterday’s violent attack on the Jewish community and against other efforts to create fear and terror.

For some in our community, this is a particularly frightening time as we have seen a growing number of highly visible attacks directed at faith and identity – on worshippers and people of faith as they go through their daily lives, on groups gathered to celebrate an LGBT Latin night at Pulse Nightclub, on civil rights and anti-racist protesters in the streets of Charlottesville, and in so many other places, as occurred in last Wednesday's shooting of two African-American shoppers in Kentucky.  Please know that you are not alone, and that you are a part of this community founded on the fundamental dignity and worth of all.

If you would like to be with others during this difficult time, please join us for reflection spaces in the coming week. 

Sunday, Oct. 28: Vigil & Memorial at the Kraft Center, 8 – 10 pm.  All in the Columbia community are welcome. For more information please go to: https://columbiabarnardhillel.org/event/pittsburgh-vigil/

For other gatherings and spaces to reflect, please check University Life’s app, website, and social media.  

We also want to remind you of supportive resources for all students on campus:

Counseling

Columbia Health

Office of the University Chaplain

If you have safety concerns, you can always contact Public Safety at:

Any students in need of assistance in the coming days can contact their dean of students, any of the above resources, or the Office of University Life ([email protected]) without hesitation

Sincerely,

Suzanne B. Goldberg 
Executive Vice President for University Life 
Herbert and Doris Wechsler Clinical Professor of Law