Mourning Buffalo Shooting Victims and Opposing Racism
May 15, 2022
Dear Stony Brook University community members,
The racially motivated slayings of 10 people and the wounding of three others Saturday in the city of Buffalo are shocking to us all. Collectively, we grieve for those who lost their lives, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families, friends, loved ones and the entire city of Buffalo in the aftermath of this deadly and vicious attack.
Unfortunately, the weekend’s events serve as a stark reminder that racism continues to plague our cities, our state, and our nation. I am deeply saddened that Saturday’s incident in Buffalo is the latest in a string of violent and racist acts that have targeted Black, Jewish, Latino, Asian, and immigrant communities. The white supremacist ideology in the alleged shooter’s manifesto has a long history in the United States. We must stand together in our opposition.
While we grieve for those who were lost, we also have a responsibility as a community of educators and learners to unite to combat hatred, intolerance, and violence. Part of the mission of higher education includes eradicating the ignorance that breeds prejudice and division. This tragedy reminds us that our work has never been more important or more relevant.
We must continue to treat each other with care, dignity, and respect as we strive to become a truly diverse and equitable society.
Please know that Stony Brook University has resources available to you. They include:
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Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which offers free and confidential services to students, including crisis intervention, counseling and consultation services, medication management, and assistance with referrals to community resources.
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The Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO), which provides students and the campus community with prevention, early intervention, education, and outreach services around public health concerns, including mental health care.
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The Student Support Team, which is set up to connect students with appropriate resources on campus and assist you if you have any challenges or concerns. The team can be reached at (631) 632-7320 or student_supportteam@stonybrook.edu.
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The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), designed to enhance the overall well-being of faculty, staff, and the organization by providing safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces.
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Healthier U, which educates, encourages, and empowers employees to make healthy decisions and lifestyle choices, while enhancing Stony Brook University’s sense of community, and culture of health and wellness.
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Stony Brook Medicine employees can access a list of services available to them on the homepage of ThePulse. In addition to EAP and Healthier U, resources for those employees include spiritual and health care teams, support hotlines, daily mindfulness meditation sessions, and Resilience at The Brook offerings.
Our scholarly community is made stronger when we remember to look out for one another. I ask that everyone at Stony Brook work together to ensure that we maintain a supportive, inclusive, and compassionate community. We all must be committed to the health, safety, education, and success of our students, staff, and faculty. Please take care.
Sincerely,
Maurie McInnis
President