A Message from University Leadership on The Colorado Springs Shooting
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
Like you, we were devastated to hear of the shooting over the weekend, in which five people were killed and over 25 were injured at an LGBTQIA nightclub in Colorado Springs. The attack also came right before the Transgender Day of Remembrance, on November 20, proving to be another tragic reminder of the violence and marginalization LGBTQ individuals continue to face in our society. Such expressions of hate and violence are antithetical to what we stand for as a university, and we condemn them in the strongest terms.
We also recognize that these, and a string of other recent violent incidents on college campuses in Virginia and Idaho, can affect us all in many ways both seen and unseen. For those in need, campus resources are available and include:
The Counseling Center. Free to all students, the Counseling Center can provide short consultations, longer therapy sessions, and referrals for long term treatment.
Talk Campus. A free service Chatham provides to all students. This is a mental health support network app where you can anonymously connect to others experiencing similar challenges. Download from the app store and login with your Chatham credentials.
Thriving Campus. Chatham partners with this service to make it easier for you to connect with off-campus mental health care, if you prefer. Navigate to chatham.thrivingcampus.com to browse and filter area providers, get answers to commonly asked questions, and connect with mental health care.
EAP Life Solutions (For Faculty/Staff). Confidential and prompt services for employees.
In addition to campus resources, The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ young people and provides extensive resources. You can call, text, or chat with a counselor anytime you need support at www.trevorproject.com.
When we return from the holiday break, The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is hosting a Queer Family Dinner, where we will hold a moment of silence for us to come together as community and recognize the victims of this deadly attack. Information about this event is on the MyChatham Happenings calendar. For faculty and staff looking to be in community during this difficult time, please reach out to be part of our new Faculty & Staff Affinity Groups.
As many of us prepare to return home for a few days, let us continue to strengthen our resolve to make Chatham a place where hate finds no traction and we are welcoming to all.
Sincerely,
David Finegold, President
Kristin Dukes, Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Chris Purcell, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
