In the wake of the presidential election, Binghamton University administrators came together to reiterate a message of support for those who are feeling the effects of the divisive political climate.

BU President Harvey Stenger, Provost Donald Nieman and Chief Diversity Officer Valerie Hampton said they wanted to assure students that the campus community will continue to be a safe and inclusive space by issuing a message to the campus community through B-Line and an email to all students and staff.

The statement attempted to highlight the diversity on campus, while also acknowledging that BU students may feel vulnerable or insecure because of the rhetoric surrounding the election. The BU administration said that efforts to be a more welcoming community must increase in the coming years, and they provided contact information for on-campus resources available to students who feel threatened or insecure.

“Know that those of you who are feeling fearful are not alone,” the statement read. “This is a trying time in our nation’s history with consequences that will undoubtedly impact our campus. But we will do everything in our power to assure that you are a safe and valued member of our community.”

The administrators also encouraged productive dialogue between all groups of students and respect for the ideas of others.

“We are committed to pursuing knowledge and truth through robust debate and the free exchange of ideas,” the statement read. “This requires an environment characterized by civility, mutual respect and kindness. Even — indeed, especially — when we disagree, we must honor these values and treat each other accordingly.”

Nieman said that he was not aware of any reports of threatening language on campus directed at minority groups in the wake of the election, but that members of the faculty and student body had reached out to administration. Multiple groups published public letters asking the BU administration to issue a statement about the election. One of the letters was signed by 127 different BU students, groups and faculty members. According to Nieman, the administration was hoping to reaffirm the core principles that unite the BU campus.

“The message we sent in the letter and will repeat is that we value diversity,” Nieman wrote in an email. “[We] are committed to making Binghamton a welcoming and inclusive community, take pride in having students from almost 100 countries on our campus, and embrace the free exchange of ideas in an environment characterized by civility and mutual respect.”

Binghamton’s New York State University Police also said that they had not received any complaints regarding harassment related to the election, but were prepared.

Hampton expressed a similar sentiment to Nieman, writing in an email that administration felt they should reiterate a need for conversation on campus.

“We, the members of Binghamton University community, can seek out our greatest resource, each other,” Hampton wrote. “We can come together to talk and share thoughts and ideas that will bring out our safer, braver, stronger humanity to foster respect and inclusion for all.”

Johnathan Christoforatos, a senior majoring in philosophy, felt that the statement was an appropriate response from the BU administration and said he was hopeful it would encourage students to have meaningful conversations, rather than fight with each other over their opposing viewpoints.

“I appreciate the statement because it does seem like people have forgotten that the best way to make progress is to have a discussion and not an argument,” Christoforatos said. “I think it’s important to spread the message of building community, and I’m glad the letter didn’t take a firmer stance on anything political but encouraged people to talk.”

Anthropology professor Carl Lipo sent out an email to the students in his department in regards to the expected policy of the incoming presidential administration.

“While some outside of our campus have used changes in the political world as a platform for hate, these political changes in no way challenge our foundational Binghamton University values,” Lipo said. “I think President Stenger, like many leaders across the country, is taking positive proactive measures to reassure our campus that we, as a community, will continue to respect one another and fight relentlessly for the values in which we believe. “