Dear Campus Community Members,
I had the opportunity yesterday to watch the outstanding production of the play Indecent: The true story of a little Jewish play, by Paula Vogel. While in the audience, I received a text message reporting to me that a swastika was found drawn on the telephone box in the breezeway between Jones Hall and Howarth Hall. The swastika was reported to Security Services, was documented and removed. However, removing a public symbol of antisemitic hate in proximity to this theatre production doesn’t make the reality of it go away.
I can express my sadness, frustration and even anger but none of these emotions does anything to change the negative impact of this hateful act on our campus community and in particular to the Jewish members of University of Puget Sound. Jewish members of our campus community have endured experiences of malicious and hateful messaging for years and we must do better than express our sentiments.
I am working in collaboration with Dave Wright and Sarah Comstock to identify a more robust response to the antisemitic rhetoric we have been experiencing on campus. For now, I ask that we rally to support Jewish members of our campus community, that we challenge any and all demonstrations of antisemitism and hate, and that we continue to be vigilant and report any malicious and hateful messages you see on campus to Security Services.
I also want to remind anyone negatively impacted by this malicious messaging that they can contact Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services (chws@pugetsound.edu) and/or Dave Wright at the Chaplaincy (chaplain@pugetsound.edu) for support.
Lorna
Lorna Hernandez Jarvis, PhD (She, Her, Hers)
Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity