Dear Marquette community,
As we approach the one-month anniversary of the start of the Israel-Hamas war, we want to acknowledge the deep hurt and fear experienced by many on our campus and around the world. As a university community, we condemn the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, and we join Pope Francis and the Society of Jesus in issuing an unconditional call for peace.
Standing on the side of peace requires that as we condemn terrorism, we also must call for Israel’s military to minimize the loss of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Every day brings new images of death and destruction, and we know the catastrophic impact this is having on our students, faculty and staff. Please join us Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. in the AMU Monaghan Ballrooms at a Campus Ministry-organized vigil to pray for peace and for all those who have lost their lives and those who are grieving.
Especially during difficult times, a university should be a place where students are taught how to engage in challenging conversations and to dialogue respectfully with those who have different opinions. Just because issues are difficult, polarizing and complex does not mean we should avoid discussing them. Our discussions, however, must be peaceful and compassionate, and we must be committed to respecting each other’s personal histories, perspectives and beliefs.
To that end, please join us at “Ignatian Examen on the Israel-Hamas war: Moving from awareness to compassion,” on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the AMU Monaghan Ballrooms. This is a chance for our diverse community, which includes both Jewish and Muslim members, to come together with Marquette’s Jesuits in an effort to humanize one another through conversation. Watch for more information in Marquette Today.
It is all our responsibility to care for each other and create a culture of belonging. There is no place on Marquette’s campus for antisemitic or anti-Muslim rhetoric that would make anyone feel unwelcome or threatened. If you experience or witness harassment or discrimination on campus, we urge you to report it by submitting a confidential bias incident report online so that it can be appropriately addressed. If you are hurting or distressed, please seek support from the resources below. You are not alone.
The war is ongoing and none of us can predict what new heartbreak it will bring in the coming weeks and months. Let us work toward reconciliation and justice as we recognize and respect our shared dignity. To stay in community, we need to speak truthfully, listen attentively and seek to understand one another.
Respectfully,
President Michael R. Lovell
Rev. John Thiede, S.J., acting vice president for mission and ministry
Dr. Chris Navia, vice president for inclusive excellence
Rick Arcuri, acting vice president for student affairs
Mental Health and Faith Resources
The following resources are available for those who need support:
- Campus Ministry and its affiliated ministries, including a Muslim campus minister and Hillel Milwaukee, are available to all students.
- The Counseling Center serves Marquette students and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and offers clinical services both in person and virtually. Students can access services by calling the main number or walking in. For students with pressing mental health needs, crisis services are available 24/7. For a life-threatening emergency on campus, call MUPD at 414-288-1911. If off campus, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For non-life-threatening mental health concerns, call the Counseling Center at 414-288-7172 during regular business hours to speak to a counselor on call or walk into the office in Holthusen Hall 204. On weekdays after 4:30 p.m., or on weekends and holidays, call the main Counseling Center number and select option 2 to be connected to a trained mental health professional.
- Faculty and staff can contact the Employee Assistance Program 24/7 for support. This is a free, confidential service provided through LifeMatters. Call 1-800-634-6433 or reach out through their website.
- The Faber Center is dedicated to providing faculty and staff with support and guidance in the form of retreats, spiritual direction and opportunities for prayer and reflection. Contact the Faber Center at fabercenter@marquette.edu or (414) 288-4545.
- The Office of Inclusion and Belonging is available to support students through drop-ins at the AMU 121, or via phone at (414) 288-7205 or by email at oib@marquette.edu.
