Swarthmore Friends Meeting Calls for Dialogue Amid Campus Protest and Quaker Values (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania)

We write as Swarthmore Monthly Meeting of Friends to express our deep sorrow over the ongoing suffering in Gaza, including deaths caused by starvation and bombings, as well as the loss of Israeli lives and hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. We continue to believe that the college should reconsider its investment policies regarding Israel. Students have shown strong commitment to speaking out on these issues, yet the administration has focused more on addressing the activists’ actions than on engaging with their concerns. Many on campus have invested their time and energy into this struggle, but there remains concern about the decision-making process of the administration, the methods of the protestors, and the role of the Board.

We recognize that many individuals on campus are experiencing pain, and we share in that grief. As a Quaker meeting committed to peaceful relationships among all people and a peace rooted in justice, we believe that a “third way” may emerge when a problem is approached with loving attention. We hope that all involved in the campus conflict will seek sustained dialogue, striving to listen and understand one another in order to foster greater empathy and find solutions to the issues raised.

As Quakers, we support nonviolent protest, speaking truth to power, and the pursuit of an end to war and its supporting structures. We hold all campus members in the Light as they navigate the challenges of being heard and healing. We are mindful of and grateful for our privileged position within the College Community. We deeply value our cooperative relationship with the college and cherish the opportunity to minister to and worship with students, faculty, and alumni among our diverse Friends.

Quakers believe that “way opens” when challenges are met with openness and care. We carry the unique difficulties of this time in our hearts, seeking to respond with compassion and integrity.

Micah 6:8 reminds us that justice, mercy, and humble service are central to living a life aligned with God’s will. The Swarthmore Friends Meeting’s statement reflects a commitment to these values, striving to foster understanding and peace amid complex and painful circumstances.

Source: Read the original report