Checking in with MIT students

October 4, 2016
Suzy M. Nelson, Vice President and Dean for Student Life, 2016–2021 |

Dear students, 

I'm writing to check in with you. 

As the headlines deliver relentless news of tragic shootings and other violence in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and most recently in Los Angeles, I have grown increasingly troubled. Some members of our community are feeling more personally vulnerable to the violence than others. Many are feeling a range of emotions – from loss and sadness, to fear and anger, to frustration and helplessness – and we may not know where to turn. 

I want you to know that you can call upon me and others in the Division of Student Life (DSL) whenever you need to talk. We are here for you. You can email me or these colleagues directly, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

You can also come to our weekly office hours. This Friday (October 7), we will be in 4-105 from 11AM to 1PM. We will have a therapy dog visiting, and room (and food) enough for anyone who stops by. Join us if you want to talk, if you want to listen, or if you just want to feel more connected to others in our community who care about you.

If you can't make it to 4-105 on Friday, please visit the Personal Support and Wellness section of resources.mit.edu. You'll find a number of places where you can turn for help with personal, academic, and health issues.

Often during tragic times, taking care of ourselves and reaching out to others can strengthen our relations and deepen our understanding. To expand our knowledge and to advance a dialogue about creating a more caring and empathetic community, DSL and Institute Community and Equity Officer Ed Bertschinger have invited Harvard Prof. Mahzarin Banaji to host a workshop at MIT. Professor Banaji is the co-author of the best-seller Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People.

I invite you to learn about and register for the November 17 event here.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Suzy M. Nelson
Vice President and Dean for Student Life