On October 7: Honoring Our Diversity and Fostering Understanding

Dear Baruch Community,

As the world reflects on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks against Israel, which escalated into crises in Gaza and across the Middle East, many members of the Baruch community have been directly or indirectly affected throughout this challenging year.

Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez shared this message honoring the tens of thousands of lives lost and reaffirming our commitment to fostering empathy and promoting respectful dialogue.

At Baruch College, this commitment is embodied in our newly launched yearlong series of cultural and community-building events, Baruch Connects. The inaugural event, the Rosh Hashanah celebration, not only honored Jewish culture and traditions but also fostered a strong sense of unity and community. It was a meaningful reflection of the inclusivity and diversity we strive to promote at Baruch.

Baruch Connects reflects our core values of care, inclusion, and respect. It brings together our diverse community by celebrating the wide range of perspectives and traditions that make Baruch such a vibrant institution. Through this initiative, we aim to deepen understanding and create meaningful connections among students, faculty, and staff by encouraging dialogue across cultures and viewpoints.

We look forward to continuing Baruch Connects with a Diwali celebration in October, followed by campus-wide festivities for Lunar New Year, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr in the spring semester. Each of these events offers an opportunity for our community to learn, celebrate, and come together in a spirit of unity and mutual respect.

In addition to these cultural celebrations, Baruch Connects features the Respectful Dialogue Series, a campus-wide initiative designed to foster thoughtful and constructive discussions on important societal issues. This series invites students, faculty, staff, and guest speakers to engage in open conversations on topics like civil discourse, intellectual pluralism, and interfaith dialogue—all within a framework of mutual respect. Together, we aim to build a more inclusive, supportive, and intellectually vibrant campus community.

As we observe this solemn anniversary, let us come together with empathy and understanding. Let us seek out connection, commonality, and a commitment to recognizing and respecting our differences.

Sincerely,

S. David Wu
President, Baruch College