Dear members of the Duquesne University community,
I am shocked and saddened by the events that took place at the United States Capitol
yesterday. As someone who has studied and taught about the U.S. Constitution and American
government for most of my life, it is incomprehensible to me that violence and lawlessness
can ever be viewed as an appropriate substitute for following our legitimate democratic
processes.
A short time ago, we hosted a University-wide program at Duquesne on the vital importance of civil discourse, even in the most contentious political environments. Yesterday's events in Washington reflected the antithesis of that civility. Indeed, they were a threat to our very system of the rule of law. Fortunately, members of the Congress returned to their chamber last night and, in spite of the threat of disruption by a mob, persevered and completed the constitutional duties they swore to undertake: certifying a new President and Vice President of the United States.
In the days and weeks ahead, I urge you to redouble your efforts to display compassion,
respect and good citizenship-qualities that have always defined our community at Duquesne
University of the Holy Spirit. Difficult times like these demand that we remain steadfast
in our efforts to care for one another, our fellow human beings, and our cherished
form of American democracy.
We will continue to pray for healing, wisdom and compassion with respect to all of
our elected officials. We will also strive to set a model, ourselves, for that highest
standard of behavior. And, as we have done throughout other trying periods in our
nation, we will make it a priority to educate our students to be future leaders in
society, so that these tragic events never repeat themselves and become a relic of
history.
Warm regards,
Ken Gormley
President
Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities
for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly
8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them
work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic
programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh
region have earned national acclaim.
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