Standing Together, Mourning Lives Lost

Message originally sent Thursday March 18, 2021

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Last night, President Rooney shared a message with the entire Loyola University Chicago community about the horrific murders in Georgia earlier this week. We echo her sentiments – and add our outrage as we witness yet another mass shooting. We want you – our HSC community -- to know that we are in conversations with student groups on issues of racism through the Racial Examen and other avenues.

Together, we stand against gun violence, racism in any form, and mourn the senseless loss of life.

While the shootings and the assailant’s motives are under investigation, this tragedy raises awareness of racial bias and hate crimes against Asian American communities as we have seen throughout the pandemic.  

Our collective work in health care is to heal individuals, communities, and to improve systems. We are called to honor the dignity of each and every person. Our work – as students, teachers, health care professionals, and researchers – is to focus on protecting and supporting every individual and every community – regardless of skin color or heritage – until we all can live in a truly civil society.

As members of our HSC community, we encourage you to seek support from Campus Ministry, Perspectives, and other HSC community members. Campus Ministry is holding a conversation tomorrow, Friday, March 19 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM and is available to talk on an individual basis. Perspectives is available to students by appointment and 24/7 by phone: (800) 456.6327. The University’s EAP program is available to faculty and staff.

We are here for you and for each other. Please reach out if/as you need.

Lorna Finnegan, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean and Professor
Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing 

Sam J. Marzo, MD
Dean and Professor
Chief Diversity Officer
Stritch School of Medicine

Elaine Morrato, DrPH, MPH, CPH
Founding Dean and Professor
Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health