Message from President Cudd Regarding Weekend and Investiture Postponement

Amended, May 4, 2024, 4:09 p.m.

May 3, 2024
3:08 p.m.

Dear Campus Community,

I was pleased to see campus operations resume today. I hope everyone is finding the resources they need to help them process the events of the week; the campus protest update webpage is being kept up to date.

This morning I took a tour of the Branford Price Millar Library and it was difficult to see this important campus space rendered unusable. The library team is working to get remote services up and running and we are also endeavoring to identify and equip alternative study spaces throughout campus. Thank you to everyone on our facilities staff who has worked and will continue to work to bring our library back online. The building is not suitable for occupation, but we hope to reopen it in time for fall term.

Our entire campus community has been under a great deal of stress this week. I know the campus closures were disruptive. I also know there is still much hurt and anger surrounding the protests, the ongoing violence in Gaza and the disturbing scenes that have played out in our midst. I know many of you will continue to raise your voice in protest and I am in full support of your right to do so. At the same time I expect that protesters will not intimidate and harass students or other members of our community. PSU does not tolerate violence or hate of any kind. We stand up strongly against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Anti-Arab and Anti-Palestinian hate. We will also continue to uphold the law and our policies regarding trespassing and property damage.

I look forward to constructive dialogue on these and other issues. I have decided to ask for the postponement of the Presidential Investiture Ceremony that was planned for Friday, May 10 at Viking Pavilion. This will give my team more capacity to plan for the Boeing Forum and other opportunities for healing campus events.

Sincerely,

Ann Cudd
PSU President