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MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – As the campus community joins the rest of the country in trying to reckon with the senseless violence in a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead, students and administrators sent messages of support to students, faculty, and staff. Mark Orten, dean and director of the Charles P. Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, in a message to the full community, acknowledged the horror of the killings and called for the community to renounce violence, while maintaining hope. Later, the Student Government Association, in partnership with Community Council, sent a message to students, expressing grief and a desire for meaningful change.
“We hope that there comes a day where this email does not have to be sent,” wrote the SGA and Community Council. “We hope that we can reach a point where religious groups do not have to seek extra protection in order to practice and pray. Until then, SGA, Community Council, and Middlebury College will work to make sure that students feel like they have a community of support and understanding. We encourage all members of the community to join.”
“In this moment, let us re-commit to full inclusion of all religions, races, sexes, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and abilities,” wrote Orton. “And let us always speak up against hateful and discriminatory speech or actions, wherever they occur.”
Following is the text from the two messages:
Message from Dean of Spiritual Life Mark Orten:
To the Middlebury community,
It is difficult to put into words the anguish and heartbreak so many of us feel at the horrific killings at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh on Saturday. It was an attack on the Jewish people, on the spirit of our nation, and on humanity itself.
At this time, our thoughts go out to the people of Pittsburgh. For anyone in our community in need of support, I urge you to reach out to advisors, counselors, deans, chaplains, or any others who are available to support you.
Tragically, this is the kind of event, fueled by hatred, that we experience too often. Only days earlier, we were trying to comprehend the unfathomable act of mailing of pipe bombs to political figures and the media, or how we could stand collectively against efforts to exclude and marginalize individuals because of their gender identification.
It is understandable if members of our community experience these days as a time of sorrow.
And yet we must resist the pull of hopelessness.
We are not and can never be a perfect community, but we are a community united by firm belief in human dignity, and we stand against all acts of hatred and violence including, in particular at this time, acts motivated by religious bigotry and anti-Semitism. We stand with all of our Jewish companions, families, friends, and neighbors in their right to be safe without defense, and to conduct their religious observances in peace.
In this moment, let us re-commit to full inclusion of all religions, races, sexes, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and abilities. And let us always speak up against hateful and discriminatory speech or actions, wherever they occur.
Let me close by saying, in the tradition of the Jewish people, may the memory of the victims of Saturday’s shooting be a blessing for their loved ones and the world.
Wishing you peace,
Mark Orten
Dean / Director
Charles P. Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life
Message from the Student Government Association and Community Council to students:
Dear Fellow Middlebury Students,
Two days ago, a gunman entered a synagogue in Pittsburgh and killed 11 people and injured 6 others. There are no other explanations for this other than anti-semitism and this country failing vulnerable communities once again. The litany of places where we cannot trust to be protected continues to grow, and we see this affecting fellow students at Middlebury. Once again, we find ourselves needing to affirm members of our community in the wake of a tragic event.
The Middlebury SGA and Community Council supports our Jewish community here on campus and beyond. We denounce the hateful, destructive views and actions that threaten their wellbeing and safety. Both organizations take pride in the diversity and representation present in both, and want to make sure that Jewish students know that we value their contributions to the larger Middlebury Community.
We hope that there comes a day where this email does not have to be sent. We hope that we can reach a point where religious groups do not have to seek extra protection in order to practice and pray. Until then, SGA, Community Council, and Middlebury College will work to make sure that students feel like they have a community of support and understanding. We encourage all members of the community to join.
To Jewish students, please know that your deans, Parton Counseling, and the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life are available and open for support. This is a difficult time, but we hope the resources available can be of use as you work to heal and understand. In addition, Hillel will be hosting healing arts and crafts on Wednesday from 4-6 in the Jewish Center in the FIC. Please reach out to Cece Alter (calter@middlebury.edu) and Rae Aaron (raaron@middlebury.edu) for peer support from Hillel.
In solidarity,
SGA & Community Council