TO: MEMBERS OF THE NYU COMMUNITY
FROM: John Sexton
RE: Shooting in the West Village on Friday Evening

Dear Friends,

I am saddened to report to you that on Friday night, a 32-year old man was fatally shot on Sixth Ave, near the heart of our campus. That sadness is compounded by a sense of shock and outrage, as the Police Department has indicated the victim was targeted and killed for being gay.

Such a crime is an assault on the values we hold dear as a University community and which we share with our neighborhood: a commitment to the diversity that makes New York City great, and support for members of the LBGTQ community. We stand united with those who reject and condemn the attacks on individuals who are perceived as different or identify as such, and we offer our deepest sympathies to the loved ones and friends of Marc Carson.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other elected officials and community leaders have organized a rally this evening to denounce hate violence. I am certain many members of the NYU community will wish to join to signal our own community’s longstanding and unwavering commitment to protect and celebrate the diversity. The March will begin at the LGBT Center at 208 West 13th Street at 5:30 pm and conclude with a rally on West 8th Street and 6th Avenue at 6:00 pm.

New York is the safest large city in America, and NYU is in one of its safest neighborhoods. Nonetheless, as shocking and unusual as this crime was, I want to take this opportunity to remind all members of the NYU community to use common sense in your daily activities; to avail yourselves of the round-the clock presence of NYU Public Safety Officers; to make use of the safety resources offered by NYU, including safe rides that will take you to or from any NYU building during nighttime (available by calling 212-992-VANS (212-992-8267)); to contact the Wellness Exchange (wellness.exchange@nyu.edu; 212-443-9999) directly or on behalf of a friend if you are having any difficulties coping with the news of this senseless tragedy; and, in the event of an emergency, call 911 or NYU's emergency number, 212-998-2222.

We especially encourage our students to be mindful of the fact that the diversity we all celebrate at NYU remains a contested notion for some, but that we have every right to assert and demand the freedom to be who we are and the protections that go with it.

Be safe and be well.

Sincerely,

John Sexton