A Message from Dean Aviva Abramovsky

March 7, 2023

To the Members of Our Law School Community,

By now we are all aware that an undergraduate student group has invited Michael Knowles to speak on campus this week. We are appalled by his recent comments regarding the transgender community.

The law school explicitly condemns all that incites fear and harms the dignity of our trans and nonbinary students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The First Amendment protects speech, but hateful speech calls for robust response. Hate must never go unacknowledged, nor should provocation be ignored.

To our LGBTQ+ community, we are here for you, we see you. It is not your responsibility to suffer alone the indignity of the presence of those who seek to erase you. We take seriously our responsibility to promote a safe and inclusive community at the law school. We remain unequivocally committed to the pursuit of a future that is free of hate and centered on mutual respect.

Resources are available for you through our Office of Student Affairs. You may schedule an appointment by emailing law-studentaffairs@buffalo.edu.

We are here with you in solidarity,