Chancellor Mark Mone shared the following message to UWM students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members on May 21, 2024.
Dear UWM Students, Faculty and Staff,
In recent days, I have heard from some on our campus and in our Jewish community that our response over the last few months to global events, local protests and the recent encampment left them feeling vulnerable, unsafe and unseen. As a leader, educator and friend, this feedback has impacted me greatly.
It is clear to me that UWM should not have weighed in on deeply complex geopolitical and historical issues. And for that, I apologize. I acknowledge that it is an increasingly difficult time for many Jewish students at UWM and across America. I’ve also heard that some students have not felt comfortable reporting their concerns or experiences. This distresses me. The expressions of grief and frustration over the conflict in the Middle East must not destabilize our shared sense of humanity or be twisted into a platform to spread hatred.
Let me be clear: UWM resolutely condemns antisemitism, just as we do Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred. Our campus must be a place that welcomes all students and the full expression of their history, culture, identity and ethnicity. But words alone cannot create the culture of inclusion we desire, which is why we must transform our words into commitment and action. This work will take time, as all hard work does, and it will also take the openness of our entire community.
As we move forward, I am dedicated to continued listening, conversation and engagement with all our students. I recognize that students must first trust that we can better support them before they can feel comfortable sharing their concerns.
The path ahead will be grounded in our guiding values. I reaffirm my personal commitment, and that of my leadership team, to advancing an inclusive campus where every student can succeed. I hope you will join me in this work.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Mone, PhD
Chancellor