[Important Information for Employees] Care for Each Other in Difficult Times

[Office of the President]

Dear Cardinal Community,

As a university community centered on a foundation of education, inclusion,
equity and experiential learning, there is a set of values we must hold up
at this time: Care, compassion and understanding.

Over the past week, the effects of terrorism and violence reverberating
from the Middle East continued to weigh on us. For many of you, these
scenes are not distant but relevant and close. And they are not going away.

In leading this university, it is important to be clear about what we
represent as an institution and also what we expect to be amplified across
all parts of this campus. Being president conveys to me neither the
expertise in international politics nor full clarity on how best to focus
attention on these matters that affect each of us in different ways.
However, it does compel me and give me the responsibility to emphasize
nonnegotiable points when it is important to do so. These include our
values such as:

   - We must remain steadfast in our unwavering support for our Jewish
   students, faculty, and community members. Their safety and mental health is
   our priority. University Police continue to be an important ongoing partner
   both on and off campus. Antisemitism is real and it is ugly. Terrorism
   foments this and must always be condemned. There is no place for hatred,
   discrimination, or any form of bias on our campus. Ever.

   - Muslims and Arab Americans increasingly find themselves targets of
   violence and threats. We must remain steadfast in our unwavering support
   for these students, faculty and community members. President Biden spoke
   recently about disgraceful attacks and how they are the opposite of what we
   stand for as a country. The White House added these must be forcefully
   condemned by all who believe in human dignity, and I agree.

I was encouraged to see the editors of Cardinal Points, an independent
student newspaper at the university, release a correction to its editorial
from a week earlier. They noted it was hastily put together and published
with multiple factual errors, which is inexcusable for the level of
journalism they aspire to. While the core opinion they express for
themselves alone is their right to formulate, a flawed process was
undertaken to write the editorial and this has implications. However, it is
a learning opportunity for them, as they noted, and I appreciate their
ownership and planning for next steps.

Fostering greater care, compassion and understanding continues to be an
important focus for each of us on this campus.

We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to utilize the available
resources provided by the university. Students can seek support from our
Counseling Center by calling 518-564-2187. Additionally, the Student
Assistance Program remains available 24/7 to provide counseling and
support. For our employees, the Employee Assistance Program is readily
available via eap at plattsburgh.edu to provide assistance and referrals to
local organizations and resources for additional support.

All on campus are directed to notify University Police 24/7 about any and
all threats or acts of violence by calling 518-564-2022. And certainly, if
you are, or are witness to immediate danger, call 911. Any member of our
campus who experiences an incident that targets their actual or perceived
characteristics or membership in groups is encouraged to submit a report
via the DIRECT reporting system
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/reporting-form.html>.

I encourage you to reach out to each other regularly, especially in these
days and times.

Alex Enyedi
President
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