Thinking of our campus community

Dear Colleagues, 

I’m reaching out to you with this short note not because I have an update to share or a statement on another issue. Rather, I want you to know that you are not alone in feeling the weight of this past week.

It is hard to process the tragic loss of two of our students and the news that was shared this week regarding the arrest of a WWU employee on campus. These issues bring with them feelings of grief, sadness, fragility, and frustration. While I cannot fathom what each of you is experiencing, reaching out to you to acknowledge that we are all carrying heavy loads and that those feelings are real seems very appropriate today. 

I also recognize that these events unfolded on top of the communication regarding administrative reorganization, further adding to the complexity that our campus community is dealing with.

As always, there are resources and support for you through tough times like these. Any WWU staff member can call the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) directly at 1-877-313-4455 or go to an online intake form through our Employees page. These resources aren’t just for show – they are there to help you through times just like these. I hope you utilize them and engage with friends and colleagues about how you are feeling and about the stresses of this past week. In doing so, you may be helping a friend or fellow employee more than you can possibly know, let alone for how those conversations may help lighten your own load. 

But more than this, I just want you to remember that while this week has been difficult for all of us, there is so much about Western to be proud of, and to love. We serve a critical mission for our society, touching lives of thousands of individuals today and into the future. Our students and our co-workers bring joy and meaning in our lives. That is what sustains me – that despite a week of such grief, and stress, and worry, that I know Western is so much more than that for so many of you.  

I recognize you have received several messages from administration recently, and I hope this message reaches each of you in the spirit that it is shared. I hope you take the time to take care of yourself, support each other, utilize the resources in place, and we will move past these events together. 

Sabah