Dear students, faculty and staff,
I write to follow up on the message I sent last week, sharing Vice-President Wong’s Message to the Community on the War in the Middle East. It has been an extraordinarily difficult week, and so I want to reach out to you again to reinforce that message. I join Vice-President Wong in condemning terrorist violence and expressing horror at the kidnapping of civilians. These atrocities carried out in Israel last weekend by Hamas are deeply affecting many members of our Faculty community, as is the ensuing devastating war. I echo Vice-President Wong’s expression of grief for the loss of life and offer of heartfelt condolences to all those who are suffering in Israel and Palestine and to everyone who has been personally impacted.
I also want to reiterate my emphasis on the importance of respectful dialogue. In these exceedingly trying times, it is all the more important that we hold firm to what makes us extraordinary and resilient as a community of teaching and learning: open exchange of ideas, abiding respect for diverse viewpoints, and compassion. I would like to remind everyone that Antisemitism, Islamophobia, hate and discrimination of any kind have no place at the University. I urge everyone to consider the impact of their words, so that they do not foment division, fuel animosity or prompt fear. In turn, as your Dean, I will always work through all processes available to me to safeguard the respectful dialogue that is so central to the University’s mission.
To our students, I want to say that ensuring that everyone feels safe, supported and included is the Faculty’s first priority. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any member of the Administration to share worries or concerns, as some of you have done over the past week. We will always work to address them to the best of our abilities. And if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, please never hesitate to reach out to the U of T and Faculty resources that I highlighted in last week’s message.
The coming days and weeks will be challenging. At the law school, let us be unstinting in showing care and compassion for each other and let us each do our part in ensuring that all members of our community feel safe, supported and included.
Jutta Brunnée
Dean, University Professor and James Marshall Tory Dean’s Chair
