President's Statement on the Siege of the U.S. Capitol 

January 7, 2021

To the RWU Community, 

The hope that accompanied the New Year was profoundly disrupted by yesterday’s attack in our nation’s capital. This is an incredibly sad moment for our country. Not since the War of 1812 has the Capitol Building been breached with the intent to do violence — and this time, it was not an invading army causing mayhem.

I am proud to be an American citizen and a citizen of Greece where democracy first took root. I admire and believe in the democratic values of hope, freedom and equality. Yesterday’s siege on the U.S. Capitol was an attack on our most fundamental democratic values, and it disturbs me profoundly. As the leader of this university and someone who believes in advancing knowledge and defending democracy, I feel I must speak out at this moment.

I thoroughly condemn the violent actions of yesterday and the lack of leadership and accountability displayed by President Trump. I am distressed and disappointed that members of yesterday’s mob were treated so differently, and far less harshly, than peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters and others who have used their right of peaceful assembly to advocate for social justice. This display of differences in power and privilege is stark and unsettling. Justice and equality are central premises in our democracy, and we need to reflect honestly and urgently on both yesterday’s events and other examples of deep fractures in our country. 

We also must always remember that democracy is fragile. It only thrives when continually cultivated. If we do not nourish it and protect it, American democracy may wither and rot. The democracies of Ancient Greece show us all too clearly that democracies do not simply last forever.

We will need time, collectively and as individuals, to make sense of what we experienced yesterday and what it means for the RWU community and our country. But it is clear that we witnessed history.

At Roger Williams University, we have a proud history and a legacy of promoting civil discourse. We hope to create classroom environments that challenge our students to have open-minded dialogues, characterized by the respectful exchange of ideas and viewpoints. Now more than ever, we must remember that dialogue and civility, not discord or divisive rhetoric, are the way forward. We must come together, truly listening and seeking to understand and learn from our different perspectives. I look forward to joining you in this important work.

Sincerely,
Yannis 

Dr. Ioannis Miaoulis is the eleventh president of Roger Williams University