A Message from President Wall Regarding Recent Events in Charlottesville, Virginia

Aug. 16, 2017

College Community,

Today, as I am in the final weeks of my presidency at Massasoit Community College, I feel an enormous responsibility to reach out to you, our college community, and assure you that at our core, we stand proud of our vibrant and diverse community. I encourage each of you to continue to engage in dialogue around issues that affect our community; remember the past, engage in the today, and work together toward a better future for all of us. As our College’s Statement of Values guides us: “We strive to reflect the diversity of our community in our student body, faculty, staff, and trustees by creating an inclusive environment that ensures equitable treatment for all.”

The recent, very disturbing events in Charlottesville, Virginia—where I spent my graduate school years at the University of Virginia—have once again awakened us to elements of bigotry, hatred, white supremacy and violence within our own American society.  With singularly clear voice we reject these. As both former Presidents Bush have just said in a joint statement,  “America must always reject bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all forms.” And, as House Speaker Paul Ryan stated, “there can be no moral ambiguity” when it comes to the actions of groups which trample upon the essential being and self-worth of all Americans by espousing white supremacy and bigotry.

As a community, may our hearts and thoughts go out to the family of the individual who lost her life and to the many who were injured during these acts of violence in Charlottesville. We also express our sadness to the families of the two Virginia State Police officers who lost their lives responding to duty.  And, as the Massasoit Community College Community,  let us stand together for the rights and dignity of all as stated in our Declaration of Independence.

Charles Wall
President
Massasoit Community College