baldsarcasm.com

April 17, 2007

"TO: the USC Community

Like Americans and people around the world, we at USC are shocked and pained by the terrible events at Virginia Tech University. The killing and wounding of students and professors - the attack on a sister institution - affects us, as well as colleagues at other colleges and universities, in a special way. Whatever sense of dwelling on an oasis of rationality and order we have carried into the 21st century has been severely compromised by the sound of bullets and screams and tears.

Where shall we turn at such a time? To one another, to the leaders of our academic community, and for some of us, to God. Clearly, all of us connected to American higher education need to reaffirm our commitment to reasoned discourse, to building a civil society, and to relating to one another with kindness.

For several years now, the Office of Religious Life has sponsored an Interfaith Memorial Service honoring those who passed away and are being mourned by graduating students, as well as other members of the Trojan Family who died in the past year or years. After deliberation, we have decided to expand that service to include a special memorial to the students and faculty who died at Virginia Tech, and prayers from us for their academic community. President Steven B. Sample will offer a tribute to those whose lives were lost, and will lead us in reflection and in solidarity with Virginia Tech.

The Interfaith Memorial Service will take place on Thursday, April 19, at 5:00 pm in the sanctuary of the United University Church, located at 817 W. 34th Street, just west of the JEP House. There will be short readings, prayers and music; and those present will be invited to light memorial candles.

The names of those who have died will be listed in the program and read aloud during the service. If you would like to add a name or if you have questions, please contact me at 740-6110 or Laemmle@usc.edu, or the senior associate dean of religious life, Reverend Elizabeth Davenport at ejld@usc.edu.

May USC, our loved ones and all of us, our country and all countries, be protected and spared further violence. And may we be strengthened in creating a more peaceful world.

Rabbi Susan Laemmle
Dean of Religious Life"