Campus Connection

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow shared UWL’s Statement of Solidarity with the Muslim community on Monday. The statement was prepared by the Islamophobia Working Group on campus, and was endorsed by all four UWL governance groups and the chancellor.

UWL Statement of Solidarity with the Muslim Community:

The negative rhetoric and increasing discrimination against Muslims across the United States compels our campus community to reaffirm one of our core values, that of recognizing and embracing “the strength that resides in our human diversity, both culturally and intellectually.” We are committed to the inclusion and acceptance of people of all religious beliefs. We reject hostility and hateful rhetoric directed at Muslims, and we oppose religious bigotry and racism in all its forms. As a campus, our mission is to serve the community “by providing a welcoming environment that facilitates learning opportunities, embraces diversity, and enriches the campus experience.” As faculty, staff, and students, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for Muslims in and beyond our community. We value the contributions made every day by Muslim faculty, staff, and students at UWL. By cultivating friendships with Muslims and challenging Islamophobia, we renew our commitment to being a community that respects and celebrates different beliefs in our pursuit of knowledge and peace in the 21st century.