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Updates Regarding Concerning Incident at Wellesley College

Update on the Wellesley College Incident: November 11 at 7 a.m. EST

I am writing to let you know that yesterday Babson shared a note of apology and an update on our investigation with Wellesley College President Paula Johnson and the entire Wellesley College community.

In addition to the sentiments expressed in that letter, which is included below, we know that many members of our Babson community have also been deeply impacted by the incident at Wellesley College.

As I shared in our initial statement on Thursday, found at the bottom of this post, we immediately launched an investigation following yesterday’s events and are thoroughly reviewing all available information. While the investigation is ongoing, we ask members of the Babson and Wellesley College communities to please understand that federal law prohibits us from discussing specific disciplinary outcomes. Be assured that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of our extended community.

Babson is a community guided by the values of civility, respect, diversity, and inclusiveness and we believe that our differences make us stronger. We appreciate that so many of you have come together to support one another and to demonstrate care and concern for the Wellesley College community.

Today, Friday, November 11, we encourage students, faculty, staff, friends, and local alumni to join together to continue a respectful and productive dialogue:

  • Community Open Hours in the Diversity Space, Park Manor Central, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
    The Diversity Space is an open, affirming, safe, and non-judgmental place for reflection, discussion, and support.
  • Peace Circle Gathering, Glavin Family Chapel, 2 p.m.
    Peace Circle is a weekly gathering of students, staff, and faculty to join in reflection, encouragement, and communal prayer for peace and understanding.

As always, safety is a priority for the College. We encourage any student or member of our campus community with a safety concern to contact Public Safety at 781-239-5555.

Babson will continue to make available opportunities to support and care for one another and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to promoting a safe, welcoming, and inclusive living and learning environment for all. The following services are always available to our students, faculty, and staff:

  • Students who wish to speak with a counselor for support during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) should call 781-239-6200 and request to speak with a counselor.
  • Outside of normal hours, students should contact Public Safety at 781-239-5555 and ask to be connected with the student affairs staff member on-call.
  • Faculty and staff who wish to speak with a counselor for support are encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Program at 800-648-9557.

Please know that we are working diligently to ensure that our diverse campus is safe and supported, to mend our important relationship with Wellesley College, to listen to the voices of our community, and to promote peace and mutual understanding at Babson and beyond.

Sincerely,

Kerry Healey
President
Babson College


Message to the Wellesley College Community: November 10

To the Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Friends of Wellesley College:

We, the Babson community, were extremely upset to learn that two of our students engaged in behavior that was, at a minimum, insensitive, unacceptable, and contrary to our core values. Please accept our most sincere apology and know that the actions of those individuals do not in any way reflect the values of Babson College.

Students should never be made to feel fearful or unsafe on their own campus. We wholeheartedly regret that members of our community impacted the Wellesley College community in such a profoundly negative way.

Many of you have questions about how Babson is addressing this issue. We immediately launched an investigation and are thoroughly reviewing all available information. While the investigation is ongoing, we ask members of the Babson and the Wellesley College community to please understand that federal law prohibits us from discussing specific disciplinary actions or outcomes. But, be assured that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of our extended community.

Babson takes seriously our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, supportive, and inclusive academic community and to being a good neighbor beyond our campus. At the same time, we recognize that our work in this regard is never done.

Please know that we are addressing this incident in the most appropriate, expedient, thoughtful, and fair way possible. We also see this unfortunate event as an opportunity to reflect on the need for civility in our collective discourse and consider new ways to promote peace and mutual understanding. Our campus has already come together, and will continue to do so over the coming days, to further this dialogue and to seek additional ways to express our empathy and solidarity with the entire Wellesley College community.

Sincerely,

Kerry Healey
President
Babson College


Initial Statement from President Kerry Healey: November 10 at Noon EST

I have been made aware of a concerning incident involving two Babson College students that took place on November 9, 2016, at Wellesley College.

According to multiple reports, the students drove around campus in a pickup truck with Trump signs and antagonized students.

Their actions, as reported to me and other college officials, were highly offensive, incredibly insensitive, and simply not acceptable.

Since the incident was first reported, Babson’s Public Safety personnel have been working with the Wellesley College Police Department to investigate in greater detail what happened and build a more complete picture of the incident.

In addition, we have received more than 40 Bias Incident Reports related to this particular incident. We also have received a number of concerned phone calls, emails, and social media outreach from Babson and Wellesley College students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the community.

I am grateful for the community’s willingness to report, express their concerns, and offer assistance. The reports have been helpful and will be used as we complete the investigation, assess appropriate action, and hold people accountable for their actions via our Community Standards processes or other appropriate processes. The investigation efforts are being conducted through the lens of Babson’s Community Standards, Bias Incident Response Policy, and any applicable laws that may have been violated.

As a community that both values and stands for civility, respect, diversity, and inclusiveness, the behavior we are learning about is of serious concern. It is not in keeping with the high standards to which we hold ourselves as members of the Babson community and certainly is in no way a reflection of the overall integrity of Babson students.

I have spoken directly to Wellesley College’s President Paula Johnson and have apologized to our valued neighbors for the pain and disruption this incident has caused.

Babson takes seriously our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, supportive, and inclusive living and learning environment here on campus, and to being a good neighbor in our broader community.

As always, the safety of our community is our priority and we ask that you please report any safety concerns to Public Safety 24/7 at 781-239-5555.

  • Students who wish to speak with a counselor for support during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) should call 781-239-6200 and request to speak with a counselor. Outside of normal hours, students should contact Public Safety at 781-239-5555 and ask to be connected with the student affairs staff member on-call.
  • Faculty and staff who wish to speak with a counselor for support are encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Program at 800-648-9557.

Babson will continue to make available opportunities to support and care for one another and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment.

Sincerely,

Kerry Healey
President
Babson College