Students, faculty, and staff are invited to take part in a campus-wide Day for Community on Thursday, May 23, Chief Health and Wellness Officer Estevan Garcia announced today in an email to the community.
The event is a response to the impact the events of May 1 have had on campus, and was developed in consultation over the past several weeks with Senior Vice President and Senior Diversity Officer Shontay Delalue and student, faculty, and staff representatives, the message said.
"Despite these challenging times, our community is resilient, and even when we disagree we can make room for listening and discussion. Let's return to that place and find a path forward," Garcia said.
The Day for Community is also "an opportunity for us to be together in grief and mutual support following the deaths this term of two beloved students, Julia Cross '24, and Guarini PhD student Kexin Cai," Garcia said.
From 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., community members will have a variety of opportunities to share food, listen, reflect, and build connections with each other. Classes will be in session during the events.
The schedule includes:
- 12:30-1 p.m.: Calming Everyday Anxiety, live webinar provided by Headspace (Registration required)
- 2-6 p.m.: Drop-in Food and Reflection Spaces (Baker 1902 Room, Hinman Forum, Life Sciences Center first-floor gallery)
- 2-4 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Reflection and Connection Listening Circles, two sessions of moderated conversation for students, faculty, and staff led by facilitators from the Consortium for Inclusion and Equity (Rollins Chapel) Register here
- 3:15-4:30 p.m.: Stronger Together: A Space to Process Impact in Community, with Liz Stahler, assistant director of counseling for acuity care (Haldeman 031)
- 5-5:45 p.m.: Deep Relaxation iRest Meditation and Journaling Session (Tucker Meditation Room, 201 North Fairbanks Hall)
"I hope you will embrace this opportunity to engage with one another and allow for the expression of varied voices, while also taking a moment to be together in community," he said.
Garcia said additional events will also be announced this summer and fall.