Remembering September 11th

Shoreline Community College President Cheryl Roberts sent the following on Sept. 11, 2015 via email to all employees.

Dear Colleague,

I’m sure most of us remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. At the time, we all felt a huge sense of despair as more than 3,000 lives were lost. Since that day, what is irrefutable is the attacks drew all of us together. We were united in our emotions and our sympathy for the families who lost loved ones that day and in the days thereafter.

Today reminds me of other unspeakable events from history: the Holocaust, violence against those involved in the civil rights movement, discrimination against those we have marginalized, and prejudice against those with ethnicities, religions, and lifestyles that are different from our own. One thing our remembrance of September 11 can do is heighten our sensitivities toward these injustices and make us more mindful of our opportunities to treat others with respect and dignity.

One of the things that drew me to Shoreline was our commitment to creating a place where everyone feels respected and valued. We’ve had our own incidents of intolerance and we addressed them head on. This fall, we will take the next step toward affirming our Community Standard Statement and completing the other structural pieces we need in place to clearly state our value of inclusiveness!

As we reflect upon the tragic events of 14 years ago, please join me in remembering the families who grieve today and those who run toward danger in order to help and offer solace.

Gratefully,

Cheryl