May 1, 2024
Dear Members of the Gonzaga Community,
I am writing to inform you of a planned event on the University campus, to raise awareness given its focus and the broader context within which such demonstrations are occurring nationally. On Monday afternoon, the University was made aware, via social media, that a “nonviolent walkout and demonstration” by a group called GU Community for Justice in Palestine is expected at noon, today, on Herak Lawn. Previous demonstrations on campus have been civil and organizers have worked to avoid making statements that might be construed as discriminatory. Gonzaga supports civil and responsible expression for our students, faculty and staff while also maintaining our community’s commitment to the dignity of all human persons, including in the pursuit of social justice. We also acknowledge and affirm our collective responsibility to create and ensure a safe campus environment for everyone. Therefore, we wanted you to be aware of this event, as well as the fact that it overlaps with a previously scheduled capstone showcase of student work for the school of engineering and applied sciences (on Foley Lawn).
Gonzaga recognizes that campus demonstrations are an important way by which students and other members of the university community can give voice to their concerns about significant issues and causes. We believe that such expressions are important, even as they frequently illuminate places where disagreement exists. In a time of social and political volatility and disruption, we are called to create an atmosphere on campus where responsible expression of ideas, civil discourse, and the upholding of our core mission-based values can authentically occur and are supported. It is important to remember that our strength as a learning community lies not in our uniformity of thought, but in our ability to engage with empathy, listen with curiosity, and seek common ground even when faced with profound differences.
Even as members of our community engage in dialogue about specific issues, the University must maintain its mission-based, ethical, and legal commitments to creating a supportive and safe environment for all members of our community, one in which everyone – regardless of social and cultural identity – is and feels able to pursue their education free of fear of intimidation or threat. Our mission demands it; federal law requires it.
Embedded in our commitments to one another is a collective effort to be the kind of place where all members of our community can thrive and feel welcomed and supported. Neither antisemitism nor Islamophobia are to be tolerated at Gonzaga, nor any other form of harassment or discrimination. I also ask you to actively engage and intervene responsibly should you witness a bias incident. Please report any occurrences of harassment or discrimination (including harassment or discrimination based on actual or perceived (i) shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics or (ii) citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity) to the Office of Inclusive Excellence so that such conduct may be investigated and properly addressed.
Our Jesuit values call us to be people for and with others, to seek justice, and to promote right relationships and reconciliation. Demonstrations can be powerful opportunities for expression of ideas and catalysts for change. Let us continue to embody our commitment to human dignity, social justice, diversity, intercultural competence, solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, and care for the planet in all our interactions, both on campus and beyond. Together, we can be a beacon of hope and unity, demonstrating that even in the face of disagreement or complexity, we can build bridges of understanding and forge a path toward a more constructive, hopeful, and peaceful future.
Sincerely yours,
Thayne M. McCulloh, D.Phil.
President