Dear President Whitten,

We, IU faculty, are writing to express our deep disappointment regarding the updated statement you made concerning the recent violence in the Middle East.

Your updated statement only speaks of Israeli pain, and ignores Palestinian suffering. You only call for “Hoosier caring and compassion” for our Jewish community members and completely ignore the 1,500 members of our community who are Palestinians, Arab, Muslims, as well as the many peace-oriented Jews, Christians, and other humanists. Taking such an absolutist and biased stand is harmful to the campus climate and certainly to employee morale – especially in a year that IU is making strides to “embrace diversity and belonging with our academic community” and after releasing an initial inclusive nuanced statement on violence happening in the Middle East. 

Our letter is not asking you to ignore the suffering of Israelis or Jews and it in no way condones violence perpetrated on civilians by any side. It does, however, ask you to acknowledge the equal humanity of Arabs, Muslims, and Palestinians. 

Since October 7th, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 2,383 people in Gaza, including 800 children, and over 10,000 people were injured. The Israeli defense minister called Palestinians in Gaza “human animals” and ordered a complete siege. Since then, Israel has launched a massive bombing campaign, unlawfully cut electricity to Gaza’s 2.2 million residents and reduced water supply, exacerbating the impact of Israel’s more than 16-year illegal closure of Gaza and its crimes of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians. We have students whose families are directly affected by these retaliations, and we are concerned about their mental health. Your statement has sadly increased their isolation and suffering.

IU has already experienced anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic hate. We recently had an ultra-Zionist student threaten to pepper spray a Palestinian student because he is Palestinian. A Palestinian student was pushed out of a business fraternity because of his identity, and some faculty have been tweeting crass Islamophobic propaganda.

Your updated statement, while intended to address the recent situation, has presented a one-sided perspective showing solidarity and concern only for Israel with no acknowledgment of the ongoing and historical suffering and death of Palestinians. This biased stance is harmful to the numerous students, faculty, and staff who identify as Muslim, Palestinian, Arab, or pro-peace from all segments. Studies have shown that these marginalized students are already at an increased risk of peer-to-peer bullying, discrimination, and harassment from administrators and faculty. When educators and academic institutions make one-sided public statements on the situation in Palestine and Israel that fail to acknowledge the realities, struggles, and humanity of either Jews or Muslims, Palestinians or Israelis, this can aggravate a hostile environment, bullying, harassment, and retaliation. 

We are calling on all IU administrators, staff, and leadership to adopt a balanced view that ensures a welcoming and safe environment for all. 

We ask that in addition to the recent biased statement, you also issue a statement affirming the pain and suffering of the Palestinians—especially the more than two million Palestinians in occupied Gaza, half of whom are children. These humans, who are being indiscriminately bombed by Israel as a form of horrific collective punishment at this very moment, are also worthy of your empathy. And please call for “Hoosier caring and compassion” for our community members who are affected by the Palestinians’ suffering,  whom you excluded in your updated message.

We look forward to a new message that does not exclude a major part of the IU community and is true to your ambition to make IU truly diverse, equitable and inclusive.