Dear colleagues,
All in our region are troubled by the tragic events in Ferguson this past weekend. A young person has lost his life, and we mourn his passing and hold his family and friends in our thoughts. Many citizens of Ferguson, including members of the Washington University community, have been directly affected by these events, and we also hold them in our thoughts.
If you have been impacted by this tragedy and need support, I encourage any of our employees to utilize our Employee Assistance Program, and students to access counseling support through our student health services.
This tragedy has renewed attention on challenges in our region. The challenges of racism, health disparities, and uneven access to quality education and economic opportunity are real. We must do more to solve the problems we face, in order to achieve a stronger St. Louis region for all its citizens. Every one of us can and must play a role in working toward that goal. Within our own Washington University community, we must be steadfast in our commitment to have a diverse and inclusive community, in order to provide the best possible education, research, clinical care, and service.
All who work and study at Washington University are a part of the St. Louis community. Together, and by partnering with others, we can contribute to a brighter future for our region.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Wrighton
Chancellor