To members of the NYIT community:

I am guessing that for some of you, last weekend's events in Charlottesville, Va., the home of the University of Virginia, though disturbing, seem distant and maybe even far away. For others in our community, especially minorities, I am equally sure that this violence feels very close, and that it is very unsettling. Having spent the past four years of my career at the University of Missouri, where we worked hard every day to be inclusive and equitable, and to avoid the kind of tragic events that happened in Charlottesville, it, too, feels very close and quite discomforting to me. These are the reasons why I am communicating with you today.

First, there is no place for racism in the United States; our future must overcome our past. There certainly is no place for it on college campuses. Why? Because racism is born from the darkness of ignorance. The light of education is the light of knowledge and experience. As institutions of higher learning, we are the light carriers; we seek to dispel the darkness of ignorance, and to let in the light. We literally are here to enlighten, to open minds, and to bring people together. In the light of learning, "others" become us and we become them. This is why, for several decades now, schools like NYIT have sought to increase diversity, to be inclusive, and to respect our differences while also recognizing our equality. We promote values that are those of a civilized, educated nation in a global society.

Second, the recent tragedy in Charlottesville is a reminder that we must all unite in our condemnation of violence against Muslims, Jewish people, people of color, LGBT students, and other groups that are so easily marginalized. Organizations such as the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and others inevitably forge violence from the crucible of hatred, and as such are in direct contradiction to what Americans stand for and believe in. They are not nationalists in any American sense of that word.

Third, in keeping with our nation's most cherished values, "the values of equality, liberty, and freedom," NYIT is committed to welcoming people of all races, cultures, and backgrounds to join our learning community. We recognize that our own individual voices and experiences, when blended with others, only serve to enrich our campuses, our classrooms, and our society as a whole.

I am very glad to be a part of NYIT and all that it stands for.

Sincerely,

Hank C. Foley, Ph.D.
President, NYIT