Supporting our community

November 9, 2023

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, Wake Forest acknowledges the pain and suffering of those directly affected and of our community members with religious, cultural, and familial connections to the region. The University continues to provide support in many forms. 

Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to attend Holding Space events, hosted by the Office of Wellbeing and the University Counseling Center. These events provide a space to connect with others and to process and reflect. The next event will be Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. in Wellbeing 330, and a full list of event times is available on the Outreach website.

In addition, Wake Forest students can reach support resources by calling the We Are Wake line at 758-CARE (2273). Faculty and staff can get support through the Employee Assistance Program at (336) 716-5493. Any Wake Forest community member can reach out to the Office of the Chaplain at 758-5248.

Since October 7, reports of antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen nationally. There is no place for antisemitism or Islamophobia in our community. Faculty, staff and students should be aware of what to do as either a victim or a bystander. Students, faculty or staff who experience instances of antisemitism, Islamophobia, or other bias incidents should report them on the Report Bias website. For faculty and staff looking to support students, the JED Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on mental health for young adults, provides guidance here for campus communities navigating these issues.

Recently, both the Muslim Students Association (story) and Jewish student organizations (story) have held vigils on campus. Students or organizations who would like to plan any related events can contact the Office of Student Engagement (stdengmt@wfu.edu) for assistance with event planning, space reservations, understanding expression guidelines and any other logistical support. A guide also is available online.

President Wente’s recent blog post, “A guide in moments of crisis: For Humanity,” focuses on our institutional response to crises and the need for ongoing and ever-evolving personal response.