It’s difficult to believe his sincerity when it comes this late. The Gaza/Hamas issue has been roiling for decades. This specific war has been going on for eight months. He’s allegedly a highly-educated university Chancellor. We are not wrong to think that he thought about his words and actions deeply before issuing them the first time. This is a man saying what he thinks he needs to say to save his job.
The UW-Milwaukee chancellor is apologizing to the campus Jewish community after a pro-Palestinian encampment spent two weeks on the corner of Downer Avenue and Kenwood Boulevard.
On Tuesday, Chancellor Mark Mone shared a message with UWM students, faculty and staff. In the message, Mone said he heard from people on campus and in the Jewish community that UWM’s response to global events and the local protest “left them feeling vulnerable, unsafe and unseen.”
Mone said he also heard some students have not felt comfortable sharing their concerns.
“This distresses me,” Mone said. “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.”
Mone said it is now clear to him that UWM should not have weighed in on these “deeply complex geopolitical and historical issues.” Mone apologized and said he acknowledged right now is a difficult time for many Jewish students across the U.S.
Mone reinforced UWM’s stance that the university continues to condemn antisemitism, Islamaphobia, and all other hatred. He said the campus must be a place that welcomes students from all backgrounds.
Mone said his message is not enough.
“But words alone cannot create the culture of inclusion we desire, which is why we must transform our words into commitment and action,” Mone said. “This work will take time, as all hard work does, and it will also take the openness of our entire community.”