We are frequently confronted with current events – from natural disasters and wars to court rulings and political actions – that generate strong feelings and varying opinions within our large and diverse community. Our priority is the safety and well-being of UW students, faculty and staff and when appropriate, we will reach out directly to affected community members with expressions of care and offers of supportive resources, regardless of whether we issue a public statement on a given situation.
As a public university, our mission is to better communities and the world and in some cases, events in the news intersect with our public mission in a variety of ways. Under certain circumstances, the president or provost may choose to issue a statement addressing current events that have a direct, significant or specific impact on the University community or are relevant to our public mission. In line with the guidance on leadership statements, any such statements will focus on how UW teaching, research and programs can help address matters of public concern and on how the UW is supporting affected University community members.
Any statement using UW resources must be in compliance with Washington state ethics law and should be reserved for those relatively rare instances in which a statement can meaningfully contribute to advancing the UW’s public mission. Statements on controversial topics should also recognize the diverse viewpoints and perspectives of our pluralistic community and do their utmost to foster an environment that is conducive to critical and constructive debate and engagement, is welcoming and respectful of multiple perspectives and promotes learning and greater understanding in alignment with our mission.