Mourning Another Act of Domestic Terrorism

Dear DU community members,

Our country, once again, is mourning the loss of innocent lives taken in yet another horrific act of hatred and white supremacy this past weekend in Buffalo, NY. We, like so many, are grieving—and we are angry and weighed down by bone-deep fatigue.

Undoubtedly, members of our DU community who are Black carry the heaviest weight of this moment. For while we are all impacted by such acts of violent terror, for Black Americans, this is but one incident in a long line of racist violence they have endured throughout the history of this nation. We must acknowledge this context and take it seriously. Targeted acts such as these undoubtedly instill the daily existence of Black people with fear and anxiety, often invisibly impacting generations and taking an incredible toll on mental, physical and spiritual health.

We call on the entire DU community to support our Black community members by taking stock of each of our spheres of influence and not letting yet another incident like this pass without moving for progress. Faculty, please allow students grace who may need extra time or consideration for their coursework and assignments. Supervisors, please allow the same for employees in terms of work responsibilities and deadlines.

There are a number of engagements and gatherings being planned on campus, including:

Community Gatherings

C+V Special Edition Community Talk: Taking Action for Justice
Showing Up with the Black Community at DU and Beyond in Response to the Domestic Terrorism Attack in Buffalo

"Even in dark times, we not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be."  - Kamala Harris

Wednesday, May 18 2022 | 12:00-1:00 pm

Register: https://www.du.edu/community-values/content/cv-special-edition-community-talk-taking-action-justice

An Additional Place for Space and Support:

Join fellow Black DU students, faculty, and staff on Thursday from 11 am - 12 pm for a communal, supportive space. Please contact Dr. Andriette Jordan-Fields for more information.

Support and Resources

The fight against individualized racism, systemic racism, and white supremacy, feels, in times like these, unbearably long. For today, we mourn those taken and those injured, and we keep the impacted families, friends and communities in our hearts and minds.

If you need support in this moment—or ever—please, make use of resources at the University.

• The Health & Counseling Center (HCC) provides many tele-medical and mental health services, including crisis and after-hours support. All University of Denver students have access to free crisis services at the HCC, regardless of insurance coverage (303.871.2205).  
• The Student Support Program (My SSP) provides 24/7 access to clinical counselors via the My SSP app. This program is confidential and free for all DU students, allowing for real-time text or talk with a My SSP counselor. Download the free My SSP app in your device's app store. 
• Student Outreach & Support is a University service where trained staff members connect students to resources to support their experience. You can activate these services by completing a SOS Referral or by emailing sos@du.edu  
• The Faculty and Staff Support Network (FSSN) is a University resource where trained staff members connect faculty and staff to support resources. You can activate this resource by submitting a FSSN Referral  
• The Employee Assistance Program can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides private support to University employees (and eligible family members) in connecting to mental health resources for support which include up to 6 free counseling sessions face-to-face, or over the phone at 1-888-881-LINC (5462).  
• Campus Safety can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 303-871-3000. Non-emergency: 303-871-2334. Toll-free: 1-844-268-6594.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor

Todd Adams, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Jeff Banks, Vice Chancellor for Human Resources

Mary Clark, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Chris Whitt, Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion