Amidst the heightened violence in the Middle East, we are aware of hate speech and harassment in our campus community. We stand against Islamophobia and antisemitism. We stand against the suppression of political speech in all its forms. We recognize the pain that our students and colleagues are experiencing. We understand that many members of our community feel particularly vulnerable right now. The Department of English strives to foster a community of care and critical thinking where we can exchange ideas in a safe way. We seek to create an open space for dialogue, even in the most intense situations.