Our life and identity as chaplains, faculty and staff at Hendricks Chapel are guided by our mission statement: “Hendricks Chapel is the diverse religious, spiritual, ethical and cultural heart of Syracuse University that connects people of all faiths and no faith through active engagement, mutual dialogue, reflective spirituality, responsible leadership and a rigorous commitment to social justice.”

Given our self-expressed identity as the ethical and cultural heart of Syracuse University, we cannot remain silent in the face of discrimination on our campus. The act of violence manifested in the vandalism of the LGBT Resource Center’s trans* awareness signs on Friday night was unacceptable.

As chaplains, faculty and staff of Hendricks, we stand in solidarity with those who were wounded by this act of violence and those in the LGBT community who continue to suffer discrimination on our campus, nation and world. We applaud those who have spoken out against this act of hate and will continue to support the administration and all those who work toward the full inclusion and safety of all persons on the campus of Syracuse University.

Elizabeth Cronk, Dean’s Assistant/Wedding Coordinator
Syeisha Byrd, Director, Office of Engagement
Rabbi Daniel Fellman, the Hillel Campus Rabbi
Al Forbes, Graduate Assistant, Office of Engagement Programs
Mary Hudson, Pagan Chaplain
Tanweer Haq, Director, Muslim Student Life
Sandra Kistler-Connolly, Assistant to the Buddhist Chaplain
Fr. Linus DeSantis, Catholic Chaplain
Rev. Colleen Preuninger, United Methodist Ecumenical Chaplain
Rev. Gail V. Riina, Lutheran Chaplain, STEP Center Director
Bonnie Shoultz, Buddhist Chaplain
Brian Small, the Hillel Interim Executive Director
Rev. Tiffany Steinwert, Ph.D., Dean of Hendricks Chapel