Pacific Stands With Iranian Citizens in Quest for Freedom
Like many in our community, Pacific University has been following the distressing events in Iran stemming from the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. Our hearts go out to Ms. Amini’s family and loved ones, and to the peaceful protesters who continue to fight bravely in support of basic rights for Iranian citizens, especially women, to freely express their thoughts and opinions, whether in writing, speech, or the very clothing that they choose to wear. Such events remind us of the fragility of the basic freedoms we enjoy, and while we stand with our Iranian colleagues both here and abroad, we also seek to uphold these fundamental principles in our community.
Pacific’s University Council, one of the primary deliberative bodies of our shared governance system, just this week voted unanimously to establish a task force to develop a university statement of freedom of expression. We are mindful of the great privilege that we enjoy in being able to have a community-wide discussion about such a statement, especially in light of growing challenges to this basic freedom both in our country and around the world.
Pacific also participates in the Scholars at Risk network, which provides assistance to scholars suffering grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging temporary research and teaching positions at institutions in the network. The College of Arts & Sciences has sponsored many visits through this program, coordinated by Katharine Loevy in the Department of Philosophy. We continue to stay connected with SAR network as a resource for this and other crises.
We know that our Iranian employees and students may be concerned about the safety of their loved ones, and that the news from Iran undoubtedly has impacted their own well-being. We remind everyone of the resources available to support you during this stressful time. Students may reach out to the Student Counseling Center, and employees can find support through the Employee Assistance Program at Canopy.
With deep respect,
Ann Barr-Gillespie, DPT, PhD
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs