November 22, 2022

Dear Drexel students and colleagues,

The deadly mass shooting at the Club Q in Colorado Springs Saturday evening dealt a punishing blow to the great sense of unity and hope that many of us felt just a day earlier at an inspirational, student-led Transgender Day of Remembrance gathering at the Paul Peck Alumni Center. It underscored the tragic reality that LGBTQIA+ people face heightened, ongoing threats to their safety and well-being.

As we grieve with the families and friends of the victims of Saturday night's shooting, we cannot and will not allow hate in any form to prevail. To borrow from my remarks at the Day of Remembrance gathering, it is our job as allies not only to furnish a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all our students and colleagues to flourish, but also to work toward building a more equitable and just society in which all forms of bigotry and hatred, including racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, have no room to operate.

If each of us does our part, our unity will endure, and our resolve to vanquish hate will grow into a mighty force.

In the meantime, I strongly encourage anyone who is struggling with anxiety, anguish, or anger to consider seeking Drexel's counseling and mental-health services. To schedule an appointment with a counselor, students can call 215.895.1415 or email counsel@drexel.edu. I also encourage LGBTQIA+ students seeking support, resources, or other information to visit the Counseling Center's dedicated site. Faculty, professional staff and graduate students can connect with a live SupportLinc representative by calling 1.888.881.5462.

In community,

John Fry
President