Viewpoints

Chairman Laurence Morse (B.A. ’73) Honored by International Student House of Washington, D.C.

Dear Howard University Community,
  

Mission Over Major

When I became interim president of Howard University in 2013, one of my first priorities was to talk to as many students as I could from across all our schools and colleges. During the course of those conversations, I was struck by how many of our students had multiple majors and minors, oftentimes in seemingly divergent areas of study. I encountered students who studied biology and African studies, chemistry and classical civilizations, political science and playwriting – there was seemingly no end to the possible permutations of subjects our students were selecting. 

East and West Towers Bomb Threat Update

I want to extend my appreciation and admiration, especially to our students, for your continued understanding during the great difficulty of bomb threats against our campus. For the second time in 48 hours, students have had to evacuate residence halls during the late hours of a school night. People who love and care about them, parents, university employees, alumni, and so many others, have had to wrestle with anxiety about the veracity of another terroristic act. 
 

Update on Recent Bomb Threats

Dear Howard University Community,
 
Last night, Howard University was once again the target of a bomb threat. This was the second such threat made against our institution in the past two weeks – and one of many bomb threats we have received since February of this year.
 

Independence Day 2022

Dear Howard University Community,

Observing Juneteenth 2022

Dear Howard University Community,

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, there has been a lot of talk about social justice; diversity, equity and inclusion; health care disparities; and more of the topics we at Howard University have been discussing for generations. These local and national conversations are, generally speaking, a positive force for good in our society. We cannot make progress unless we are willing to discuss, with complete honesty and sincerity, what needs to change.

Statement on Mass Shooting in Nigeria

Dear Howard University Community,

Celebrating Pride Month

Dear Howard University Community,

Observing Memorial Day 2022

Dear Howard University Community,

Memorial Day is distinct from many other national holidays because it calls upon us to remember people rather than a particular event or moment in history. On this day, we pay tribute to the members of the military who lost their lives in service to their country rather than the historical occasions on which their lives were lost.

Taking Action: Protecting Our Children and Our Communities from Gun Violence

Dear Howard University Community,

Commencement 2022

For the past two years, even as the coronavirus pandemic has continued to create uncertainty in our society, Howard has made concerted efforts to host an in-person Commencement Convocation. To be sure, our priority has always been and will forever remain the safety and security of our community; we would not have held in-person Commencement ceremonies if we did not think we could gather safely to do so. But the emphasis we placed on having a traditional Commencement says something about the significance of this ceremony. 

Statement on Racist Shooting in Buffalo

Dear Howard University Community,

It brings me great sadness to write to our community about another tragic mass shooting. This particular massacre, of course, hits very close to home as the shooter targeted a grocery store in a predominately Black community in Buffalo, shooting 13 people and killing 10, almost all of whom were Black.