University of Redlands
I write on behalf of President Kuncl, who is presiding over an honorary degree ceremony and other events at our Salzburg campus this week. Distance didn’t blunt the effect on him of the news we awoke to today, however.
Like so many of you, we were devastated to read that 12 are dead and at least 18 wounded in a mass shooting that took place last night, and that fellow academic communities are affected. The shooter is among the dead.
This time, it’s close to home both geographically – in Thousand Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles – and emotionally, as it involved many college students who were gathered at the regular Wednesday college-themed night at a local bar and grill, enjoying country music. We know that this event is popular with Moorpark College students, that Pepperdine University students were inside when the shooting occurred, and that California Lutheran University has canceled classes today.
As more details of the horrific event and names of the dead and wounded become known, it is likely some members of our community will be directly or indirectly impacted. Whether or not you know someone who was involved, the continuing news on this very topic – the human cost of gun violence – can simply be difficult to process, difficult to bear.
If you are in need of support, here are resources based on the Redlands campus:
Chaplain John Walsh will hold a gathering of prayer and reflection at the Labyrinth at Memorial Chapel today at 4 p.m. I hope to see many of you there.
With sadness and concern,
Kathy
