Editor’s Note: The following message was shared by President Taylor Eighmy with the UTSA campus community.
As we witness the aftermath of the devastating terror attacks on Israel and the war now underway in Israel and Gaza, we feel a profound impact on our campus community. Violence against the innocent is unconscionable, cannot be supported, and is inconsistent with our core values.
Many members of our university community are directly impacted, and even for those not directly affected by the violence there are feelings of sadness, fear, and frustration that take a heavy emotional toll.
At UTSA, we strive to provide support to our students, faculty and staff experiencing pain and grief. If you need support during this critical time, we urge you to take advantage of the UTSA resources available to you. Your health and wellbeing remain our highest priority as a community.
- UTSA Mental Health and Counseling Services for Students
- UTSA Employee Assistance Program
- UTSA Global Initiatives services for International Students
With the situation continuing to develop, The University of Texas System has restricted all university-related travel to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip until future notice. UTSA does not have any current students or faculty in the region on university-sponsored programs, and we are carefully monitoring conditions for others traveling elsewhere abroad.
As we reflect on this tragedy and our place as a campus community, now more than ever it is important that we stand together to uphold our collective values of respect and integrity. We must also take a collective stance against any mistreatment of fellow Roadrunners. If you, or someone you know, experiences discrimination or harassment, we urge you to file a report with our Behavioral Intervention Team so appropriate action can be taken. You can also report any concerns via the UTSA LiveSafe app.
During this uncertain and challenging time, please check in on each other and make sure those around you have the support they need as we attempt to come to grips with this horrific violence. We will continue to share support resources and update the campus community as necessary during this crisis.
