Chancellor Fuller comments on the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York
Dear Members of the UMass Dartmouth Community,
Our campus community is shocked and deeply saddened by the heinous massacre at the Tops supermarket in which 10 people were murdered in Buffalo, New York over the weekend. The incident is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who tragically lost their lives, along with all of those who were injured and traumatized by this senseless violence in Buffalo, as well as by the mass shooting yesterday at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California.
Racism, white supremacy, and hate crimes must never have a place in our society, and we must work together to build a world in which everyone can conduct their daily lives without fear of being targeted for their identity. At UMass Dartmouth, we will continue our work to foster mutual understanding and respect, social justice, and ally development. We will also offer an opportunity to come together to process and discuss the impact of mass shootings with members of the Counseling Center and other student affairs staff on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Student affairs will share more information about this virtual forum soon.
I want to remind students that our Counseling Center is here for you as you cope with the tragedy of these hate-fueled mass shooting incidents. You may request an appointment at 508-999-8648 and the after-hours crisis line is also available at 508-910-4357 weekdays 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and on weekends.
For faculty and staff, please call Human Resources (508.999.8060) and take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free counseling. EAP benefits may be accessed by calling 844.393.4983 or by visiting their website and entering our company ID: UMASS to speak to a counseling professional.
Best,
Mark A. Fuller, PhD
Chancellor
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth