*sent to Brown faculty and instructors on October 26, 2023*

Dear Colleagues,

I know that many members of our community have been shaken, both professionally and personally, by the ongoing violence and conflict in the Middle East. Following the email all faculty and staff received a short while ago from University Human Resources, I am writing to acknowledge the difficult moment in which we find ourselves, and to offer support and resource guidance for our faculty. As members of a teaching and learning community, we often experience the impacts of moments like these inside and outside the classroom.

I want to reiterate the set of core values shared in the communication you received earlier this afternoon. During these challenging times, we are guided by our mission of advancing knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry within a caring and compassionate community. We are focused on three major priorities: 1) fostering open and respectful learning environments; 2) providing care and empathy to affected members of our community; and 3) taking the strongest possible stance against discrimination, harassment and racism of any form against any racial or ethnic group.

I want to acknowledge that many members of our community are deeply affected by recent events, and may be experiencing grief or loss of loved ones. Please refer to UHR’s email for the detailed list of resources, including Brown’s Employee Assistance Program, which provides a range of free and confidential services, including counseling, coaching, and mental health support, as well as legal, financial and other work-life services. Members of our teaching community who are concerned about the health or safety of any student will find helpful information on the Student Support Services website.

In addition to grappling with personal grief, faculty and instructors may need to navigate difficult conversations in their roles as educators. The Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning provides the following resources for managing challenging times in classroom settings:

• Facilitating Controversial Discussions
• Strategies for Managing Difficult Classroom Conversations

The Sheridan Center also offers free consulting services for members of the Brown teaching community. To request a confidential consultation, email [email protected]. We encourage faculty to share these resources and support services with graduate students who serve as teaching assistants for their courses.

I am proud to be part of a community that values approaching issues with a tone of respect and collegiality, even in the face of differing views and experiences, and I appreciate that our faculty and instructors recognize the importance of remaining committed to these values even during this difficult time. True to the mission of Brown, many members of our community are leading efforts on campus and beyond to broaden and deepen understanding through scholarship, education, community gatherings and forums for discussion. You can find a list of these opportunities curated by the Watson Institute, in consultation with The Center for Middle East Studies and the Department of History.

We also are resolved in our cross-campus efforts to ensure a community where all individuals feel safe. We continue to ensure that all who live, work and study at Brown know the resources available to them for reporting any instances of bias, or any circumstance where they might feel unsafe. Members of our community can report bias incidents using the bias reporting system, and anyone who has experienced or witnessed an incident involving harassment or discrimination can report it using the Discrimination and Harassment Intake Form.

Unfortunately, the days ahead will likely continue to be hard. Including and especially in moments as challenging as this one, we sustain ourselves through empathy and building understanding of perspectives, views and experiences different from our own. I appreciate the ways members of our teaching community continue to maintain open and thoughtful discourse throughout this difficult time.

Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any questions about available resources or need additional support.

Sincerely,

Francis J. Doyle, III

Provost