Statement from CDO and Campus Dialogues event

Many of us, our students and staff, are directly or indirectly affected by the horrific events in Gaza and Israel and share the experience of fear, sadness, anger, grief and despair. The Central Diversity Office invites you to Campus Dialogues on Friday, 27 October from 15:00 to until 17:00. As Central Diversity Office, one of our main tasks is contributing to a diverse and inclusive university, while acknowledging the many different perspectives and backgrounds present on our campus. In the past days, we have experienced in our own diverse team how challenging this can be in light of the horrific violence we are now witnessing in the Middle-East and beyond. Maintaining a respectful and empathetic atittude towards each other's struggles and perspectives might be more challenging but also more important than ever. From this perspective, we acknowledge that many of our students, staff and relations have been directly or indirectly affected by the horrific violence emerging in the wake of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, now morphing into a genuine Gaza-war. As has been the case over the years, this is true for those with Israeli or Palestinian nationalities, but also for many who feel connected to it due to their background, religion, or just as human beings.