NEWS
Umeå University supports the European University Association initiative to observe a minute’s silence on Monday 27 April at 12:00 in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attack at Garissa University College in Kenya at the beginning of April. 147 people were killed and 79 were wounded in the attack. Flags will be at half mast from 11 o'clock.
In an open letter to universities and higher education institutions the European University Association (EUA) writes that the minute’s silence will be held to draw attention to the victims of the Garissa University attack and other attacks at universities around the world.
Furthermore, EUA writes that any act of violence or attack on education runs counter to the fundamental university values of freedom of thought and expression, tolerance and autonomy, and undermines the ambition of giving young people the prerequisites needed to make a contribution to society.
EUA states that safeguarding the freedom and safety of universities and university communities is pivotal in ensuring the advancement of knowledge and the cultural and scientific development, and that this pursuit of knowledge has no boundaries since universities transcend geographical and political frontiers.
