Participants in Sunday's Vigil for Peace at the Peace Pole on campus.
Faculty, administrators, students and local residents joined together for the Vigil for Peace on Sunday evening, Nov. 4, to connect the Fredonia community against hate.
The candlelight event, held at the Peace Pole located near Mason Hall and coordinated by the campus Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, was held in response to major national events of recent weeks that included shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue and a grocery store in Kentucky and the mailing of pipe bombs to prominent political leaders.
“We made note of these specific events, and also many other issues that happened that did not make the national news but may have impacted individuals’ identities,” explained Dr. William Boerner, director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
A faculty member led the group in a moment of silence. The Mourner’s Kaddish, a prayer that honors the deceased during the bereavement period, was recited in Hebrew by the daughter of a faculty member. Dr. Boerner offered opening remarks. President Virginia Horvath delivered closing comments.
