To: Wellesley College Students, Faculty, and Staff
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: The violence in Israel and Gaza
Date: October 11, 2023
This weekend Hamas launched deadly terrorist assaults on Israel and its citizens that are appalling in their magnitude and manner, including the brutal execution of innocent families and the taking of approximately 150 hostages. This attack has led Israel to declare war against Hamas. As president and a member of the Wellesley community, I condemn the taking of hostages and the indiscriminate murdering and terrorizing of civilians.
Our community mourns the tragic loss of life in this war, and our hearts break for the innocent Israelis, Palestinians, and other victims of violence. We are particularly concerned for those who have family, friends, and loved ones in the region, and we hope for their safety.
We remind all members of our community that the College has resources available to support you during this difficult time. We urge students to contact our dedicated staff at the Stone Center Counseling Service and in the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Our employee assistance program is available for our staff and faculty.
As the situation in the Middle East evolves, I know members of our community will view the events differently. Wellesley is a global community composed of people from a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, and respect and tolerance for those holding beliefs and points of view that are different from our own are essential values of the College. We live and learn together, recognizing our common humanity, in the hopes that we can contribute to the making of a better world. Yesterday President Biden stated, “There is no place for hate in America, not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody.” In that spirit, I urge everyone to extend to each other the support, understanding, and humanity we all desperately need in this moment.
