As alumni and parents of students at Emory University, we are disheartened by the events that have divided our campus among students, faculty and the administration. As protests rage across the US, we are watching some campuses crumble, as spaces intended for learning and civil discourse are occupied, defaced and destroyed. Elsewhere, college administrations are simply folding to protesters' demands and threats. Against these extremes, the Emory administration is deftly balancing an unprecedented set of unaligned perspectives and cohorts and effectively navigating our institution through a complex set of hard choices. 

As parents, we’ve sent our children to Emory to learn at one of the country’s finest intuitions, to explore ideas free from judgment, to challenge themselves and others, to grow, and to succeed. We have also entrusted Emory with our children’s safety and well-being. And as alumni, we think back fondly on our time at Emory, where we had the opportunity to attend a world-class university and the ability to engage in civil dialogue with those holding diverse viewpoints in a safe environment. Due to unreasonable actions and uncompromising, unrealistic demands by a loud faction of the Emory community, as well as outside activists with a range of tangential agendas, safe, open expression and dialogue is no longer an option. Despite this, President Fenves has been unwavering in his commitment to Emory’s core mission, to “create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity.”

In this trying moment for our country and the higher education sector, we are grateful for the Emory administration’s commitment to the peaceful, free expression of ideas, while also prioritizing the safety, security and wellbeing of all students on campus. President Fenves and the administration have proven they can exercise sound judgment, make difficult, but necessary choices, and do so transparently.  

We, the undersigned, stand in full support of President Fenves and his administration and trust in their leadership to guide Emory forward to create a stronger, more understanding community.