May 16, 2022
To the Campus Community:
The tragic and racist shooting that claimed 10 lives in Buffalo this past weekend
reminds us that violence and hatred remain central scourges of American society.
Our sympathies go out to the families of the victims and the broader Buffalo community.
We mustn’t presume that we are powerless in the face of the hatred that feeds such
violence and extremism. Horrific incidents such as this are teachable moments. Farmingdale
State College is an institution of higher education dedicated to the honest and open
search for truth. As such, we have some responsibility to help each other, and our
society, understand and address the ugly truths about the hatred and repeated violence
we see around us.
How many times must horrible acts of mass violence against innocent people occur before
we, as a society, address the undercurrents of racial, religious, ethnic or other
forms of hatred such as Saturday’s shooting? Although I have no answer, I know that
it is long past time to focus even more intently on addressing this crucial question.
Undoubtedly the victims are known to many of those who work and study at one of the
SUNY colleges in the Buffalo area. As troubled as we are, the emotional toll on those
who live, work, and study near the site is especially high. I hope that they know
our thoughts are with them. My most fervent hope, however, is that I will never again
need to send a message such as this.
John Nader
President
