Dear AU Community,

The tragic murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee is painful, traumatic, and should never have happened. I am heartbroken for the Nichols family. I am heartbroken for members of our Black community who are shaken by another horrible act of violence against a Black man. And I am heartbroken for our community that is hurting. I have not watched the video because I do not need to see it to know that the acts are senseless and inhumane.

The best thing we can do right now is support our community. Many of us in our AU community will want to express our hurt and anger through action. Raising our voices against violence and using the knowledge of our community are important ways to make the change we seek in this world. We are working on opportunities to bring our community together in the coming days, including a candlelight vigil on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Kay Spiritual Life Center, which is always a gathering place for our community in hard times.

For those who engage in protest, please be safe and support each other, and please follow our guidelines and practices. I hope that the Nichols family’s call for peaceful protest will be honored. We are focused on the safety of our community and our campus, and we are coordinating with local law enforcement should civil unrest occur in the broader Washington, DC region. If specific safety alerts are necessary, we will share them with the community.

I hope any community member in need of support will use our campus resources. Students can contact the 24-hour AU ProtoCall line at 202-885-7979 or the Center for Well-Being Programs and Psychological Services at 202-885-3500. Faculty and staff can contact the BHS Faculty and Staff Assistance Program at 800-327-2251 or on the MyBHS portal. Kay Spiritual Life Center is always available for any community member. This tragedy will undoubtedly be on our minds and discussed in our classrooms, residences halls, and offices. We are working to provide our students, faculty, and staff with guidance and support to help them in the coming days. We also know that members of our community will create additional opportunities for support and engagement. Please take the steps and time necessary to care for yourselves, understand and respect the care and grace that others may need, and know that people will experience this difficult time in different ways.

Tonight, we hold the Nichols’ family in our hearts, and we comfort one another as we struggle with this tragedy. My biggest hope is that we can be there for each other.

In peace,

Sylvia