Violence Against Palestinian-American Students in Vermont

Dear all,

Over the weekend, we learned the horrifying news that three college students of Palestinian descent who were visiting family and friends in Vermont were shot by an attacker. All three students are hospitalized. According to reports, Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown; Kinnan Abdalhamid, a junior at Haverford College; and Tahseen Ahmed, a sophomore at Trinity College—three lifelong friends—were on their way to dinner when they were each shot. Two of the students were wearing kaffiyehs, and they have told family members they were speaking in a mixture of English and Arabic. Police are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, and a suspect is now in custody.

This hideous act of violence is tremendously upsetting given our close ties to these schools and their communities and because we are in a moment when acts of hate and discrimination are on the rise in the US and around the world. It hits home on many levels and our thoughts are with these students and their families as they grapple with this unfathomable ordeal.

We are living through a frightening and uncertain time. I recognize some on campus may have concerns about personal safety, and this horrific attack on three Palestinian-American college students may make these concerns feel more present. Please know that we have excellent safety and security resources on campus, and protecting our campus community as a place for learning is our top priority.

As a college, Vassar is committed to supporting students and to fostering an environment in which students are free from hate, violence, and discrimination. Let us take extra time now and in the weeks ahead to express our care and empathy for each other.

We have community members available to provide our campus with necessary care. Pratt House will be open tonight from 6–8 p.m. with a staffed drop-in space for connection or quiet reflection.

I hope that the care, action and reflection resources offered by the new Restorative Response Group, along with the existing resources here at Vassar, continue to support all of us in navigating our concern, anguish, anger, and sadness at this time. Remember, you are not alone in this.

If you are experiencing an emergency please contact Campus Safety immediately at (845) 437-7333 or for non-emergencies (845) 437-5221. For Counseling Service (845) 437-5700. To reach the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices call (845) 437-5550.

Take care,

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar