To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Chancellor Nancy Cantor" <pubaff@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: pubaff@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Updated Message from the Chancellor

Message from Chancellor Nancy Cantor

As today's tragic events have continued to unfold and people from across 
campus have expressed the need for healing, a number of us have gathered 
to consider ways to mark these events, together, as a community.

This is a time when all of us feel vulnerable.  There will be members of 
our community who feel vulnerable because they may have lost loved ones.  
There will be members of our community who feel vulnerable because their 
hometowns have been the target of attacks.  There will be members of our 
community who feel vulnerable because they have come here from distant 
lands and may feel alone.  There will be members of our community who feel 
vulnerable because of their faith or cultural heritage.  It is critical 
during this time of deep emotion and empathy with the suffering of others 
that we reinforce our own ties of interdependence as a diverse community.

In light of all that I have heard from our campus community, I am asking 
the campus to observe tomorrow, Wednesday, as a day of conversation, 
reflection and engagement.  I urge faculty to use Wednesday's class time 
as an opportunity for reflection and discussion about today's tragic 
events.  Since some students will not feel comfortable attending class 
after these events, I have written faculty asking them not to penalize 
those who choose not to attend.

Reflection takes many forms.  Many members of the campus community will 
want to do something tangible to help.  This evening we will create a link 
on the home page to a page listing opportunities to volunteer their time, 
to donate blood and to make gifts to disaster relief.

That same page will list remembrance services in Champaign-Urbana this 
(Tuesday) evening.

On Thursday evening, the entire campus community is invited to gather at 7 
p.m. in Krannert's Great Hall for "A Time for Remembrance and Unity."  
This will be an occasion for people to come together to reflect and to 
forge unity.

I hope and believe that this is a community that will respond to tragedy 
by coming together.


This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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