Statement on Israel and Gaza
October 11, 2023 10:29 AM
Dear students, faculty and staff,
In the past few days, we have watched the events unfolding in Israel and Gaza with great anguish and alarm. The unspeakable brutality of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians is simply horrifying. Such acts can never be justified and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms.
We have listened to our students and other members of our University of Illinois System community who are clearly hurting, and they are our first priority. Our three universities have ensured that support is readily available to students, staff and faculty who may be in need.
As the conflict continues, additional innocent individuals will be injured or killed in both Israel and Gaza. We are gravely concerned for Israelis and Palestinians who have been and may now be in harm’s way. Though we may be located half a world away geographically, many of you will be carrying heavy burdens in the days to come.
Our universities will continue to provide support, resources and safety measures for our community. University counseling and mental health services are there for all of you. Teams stand ready to help – please see links below.
We are not in a position to affect the progression of the conflict or the outcome. However, we can decide as a community that we will support and care for one another, and we can recommit to our deeply held belief that the multicultural communities that compose our universities are our greatest strength. We are one University of Illinois System community and - at our best - we bring empathy and compassion to our work together.
It remains our fervent hope that people of good will work together to provide for lasting and just peace in the region.
Tim Killeen
President
University of Illinois System
Marie Lynn Miranda
Chancellor
University of Illinois Chicago
Janet Gooch
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield
Robert Jones
Chancellor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Support Resources: Students
Urbana | Student Assistance Center or (217) 333-0050 helpdean@illinois.edu
UIC | Student Assistance Center or (312) 996-4857; dos@uic.edu
UIS | Counseling Center
Support Resources: Faculty and Staff
Office of the President
sent to:
Academic Professionals, Civil Service, Faculty, Extra Help, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Incoming Graduate Students & Incoming Undergraduate Students