Dear Members of the TC Community:
Last Thursday, January 29, 2026, Advancing Community Together (ACT) hosted a community gathering where members of our TC community came together to reflect, share resources, and ideas in response to the escalating immigration enforcement activity and recent devastating events in Minneapolis and other cities around the country. The fear and anxiety that many in our community are experiencing was palpable as students, staff and faculty shared personal reflections about how what is happening is having a direct impact on their daily lives and those of their loved ones. I thank everyone who attended and shared their thoughts so openly.
It was heartening to hear the constant theme of care and concern for others across the community. Public Safety shared the protocols TC has in place to support the TC community on campus. There was acknowledgment that individuals experience and respond to these events in different ways. Many of those present expressed feelings of grief, anger, and confusion but also of gratitude, hope and resolve. Listening to the emotional and powerful reflections of our community members was a poignant reminder of our vast range of lived experiences, of how much we can learn from one another and of the power of our collective presence and our community.
To that end, the gathering reinforced the importance of coming together in collective strength and in providing a platform for individuals to continue to share resources and take action. TC community members shared specific actions that they are taking, from providing mutual aid and volunteering for immigrant rights organizations to contacting legislators at multiple levels of government through 5Calls and carrying and sharing know your rights cards. As President Bailey noted in closing, it was encouraging and uplifting to learn about the different and personally meaningful avenues for action that members of our community are taking.
There are many other ways individuals are responding and we look forward to continuing these conversations to share resources. As a subcommittee of the President's Committee for Community and Diversity (CCD), ACT will continue to keep you informed on ways to engage and welcomes inquiries or questions at tcact@tc.columbia.edu.
TC and Columbia Support Resources
Members of the community have access to the following TC and Columbia resources:
- Students: Student Support & Advocacy or Counseling and Psychological Services at Columbia Health; Office of International Students & Scholars
- Faculty and staff: Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Office of the University Chaplain
- College Ombuds
- Office of Public Safety
I am grateful to everyone in our community for your care during these challenging times, and look forward to continuing our dialogue together and sharing avenues for action.
Warmly,
Thomas P. Rock, Ed.D.
Vice President for Community & Student Affairs