Dean Risa Goluboff shared the following message with the Law School community Wednesday.
Dear students and colleagues,
I am forwarding UVA President Jim Ryan’s message, with which I wholeheartedly agree. As he writes,
There can be no justification for, and we must condemn, the actions of Hamas and the horrific violence that has taken place against civilians, including children. Sadly, the terrible war it has provoked will undoubtedly mean that more innocent lives will be lost. Like so many others, I fervently hope for a swift end to the violence.
The past few days have been heartbreaking. Though these events are taking place across the world, they hit home for many who are personally affected here at the Law School, especially those who hail from Israel and Gaza or have family and friends there. As President Ryan says,
There is no question that this attack and its aftermath have stirred deep emotions within this community, including sadness, fear, grief, and anger. They have also stoked division and rancor around the world along familiar lines of religion and ideology. I trust that we as a community can and will adhere to UVA’s longstanding tradition of not just allowing free speech but promoting civil discourse, even when — perhaps especially when — we strongly disagree.
These events affect us in different ways, and our responses to them do and will differ. But the strength of our community lies in our ability to see each other as full human beings and treat each other with compassion and mutual respect.
We here at the Law School have been in communication with and continue to offer support to affected students, faculty, and staff on an individual basis. If you are a student and need support, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kate Gibson and Karen Painter at @email, Dean Davies, Dean Jefferson, or Megan Durkee. If you are a faculty or staff member, the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program is ready to help, as are Diddy Morris and Nicole Robinson.
As always, I find my own strength in the Law School community and the care and concern we offer one another. I hope for peace in the days to come.
All my best,
Risa Goluboff
Dean, Arnold H. Leon Professor of Law and Professor of History
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
