Skip to content

Office of Equity and Inclusion

Statement on Monterey Park shooting

By

The University of Rochester joins the Monterey Park, California, community in grief and sorrow after eleven people were killed and nine injured at a Lunar New Year celebration. We are devastated at the loss of life during a time that is meant to be filled with joy and renewal. We stand with members of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities as they mourn the dead and try to make sense of this senseless act of violence, which has become all too commonplace.

Violence against members of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities reached unprecedented levels during the pandemic. We understand that this latest gun crime is especially traumatic to those already feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in public spaces. We stand united to support our University community after this traumatic incident.

The University Counseling Center will host virtual sessions to support students in the aftermath of the shooting on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 11 a.m. (Zoom ID 9438 3061 567) and Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at noon (Zoom ID 6436 088 152). The Interfaith Chapel will also be open to community members.

These resources are also available:

In solidarity,

Adrienne Morgan, Ph.D. 
Interim Chief Diversity Officer, University of Rochester
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, University of Rochester Medical Center

Sasha Eloi-Evans, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, University of Rochester

Crystal Sellers Battle, DMA
Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion, Eastman School of Music

Anika Simone Johnson, Ed.D.
Inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion, Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development, University of Rochester

Beth Olivares, Ph.D.
Dean for Diversity, Arts, Sciences & Engineering, University of Rochester

Janet Mejias, MBA
Director, Equity and Inclusion, Simon Business School, University of Rochester

Mitchell Wharton, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, CNS, ACRN
Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion, School of Nursing, University of Rochester