Dear faculty, staff, and students:

I have been watching the news since Saturday morning, and what I have seen is as horrifying as it is discouraging. I have been affected. It is likely that many of you, too, are affected and are suffering. We have members of our community from these devastated areas, and no doubt many more of us have family and friends affected by this violence. Please do not suffer in silence, or alone. Avail yourself of our professional staff in Counseling and Wellness in Long Island (516.686.7683) or New York City (212.261.1773) or by email at counseling@nyit.edu; they know how to help you cope with your anger, anxieties, and grief.

In the end, this apparently irrational violence has a purpose: to divide us, to pit us against one another, to make us react viscerally, and to induce our rage. When we are enraged, we are highly susceptible to manipulation, because we are so predictable. When we are calmer, we have time to think and not just to react. When we are rational, we are more able to think about the longer-term consequences of our actions. Let’s not be manipulated.

One of the great aspects of New York Institute of Technology is that we are very diverse. Despite our different backgrounds, viewpoints, and religions, we all study and learn together and get along. The next days, weeks, and months will be challenging. As a community, let’s strive to maintain respect and be kind to one another.

Sincerely,

Hank Foley, Ph.D.
President, New York Institute of Technology