June 15, 2016: A Brief Reflection...

To the Bucknell Community:

This past January Bucknell celebrated the Martin Luther King holiday with a series of events sharing the theme "The Violence of Hate." Several hundred members of our community packed into the LC Forum one night to hear from four fathers who each lost a child in the Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting. Incredibly, the title of their discussion was "Four Fathers, Four Journeys: Sandy Hook — Violence, Loss and a Way Forward." Their ability to see hope in the face of unimaginable loss was almost beyond comprehension.

Again this week, our country has witnessed a staggering display of violence. Every individual taken in Orlando was someone's child, cherished friend, or loved one. Like us, they had hopes and dreams, aspirations and fears, triumphs and failures. Their precious lives were cut short by senseless — and incomprehensible — violence born of hate.

Although the greater Bucknell community is largely dispersed for the summer, we can and must pause to honor those who were lost; to support one another, especially those in our LGBTQ community; and to disavow violence in its many forms. Even if not physically together, we can still, in our hearts and minds and souls, stand together. Call each other, write each other, and if possible, hug each other. While hatred has shown an ability to cross miles, I know that love and compassion can do so more quickly.

And, importantly, let us promise that we will not rest in our efforts to make Bucknell, and by whatever means given to us, our world, a better place. That is a work for all of us.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

John Bravman
President