Tripathi offers message of empathy, collective strength

UB President Satish K. Tripathi issued the following statement in response to the recent mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso:

“Dear University Community,

I write to you with a heavy heart. As I reflect on the dozens of lives taken in the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. Once again, we come together as a university community – and a nation – to mourn tragic loss and to hope for healing in the aftermath of such staggering and senseless violence.

As we grieve the lives lost in Dayton and El Paso, and the lives shattered in those cities and well beyond, we must contemplate how we can unite as a community of higher education—not only at UB, but throughout higher education—to actively reaffirm the cherished ideals of the university.

Our higher education community has a responsibility to civilly challenge and productively counter the ignorant, sinister rhetoric that sows the seeds of intolerance, bigotry and hate—and that, all too often, culminates in horrific deeds of violence.

We extend our deepest condolences to our sisters and brothers in Dayton and El Paso. Let us harness our collective strength as a university community to push against the wave of hatred and intolerance. Let our every action uphold kindness and empathy. Our shared humanity binds us as a university community, and a country. Let us never lose sight of that.”