Dear Campus Community,
Yesterday, a group of our students were tabling on Scholars Lane, with signs that promoted messages that were clearly intended to create an unwelcome environment for our nearly 600 undocumented students. The incident disturbed many of us, as it runs counter to UC Merced’s Principles of Community .
Our undocumented students came to this country with their families as children, and they are working hard every day to create a better life for themselves, their families and our community. It troubles me to think that some in our Bobcat family would wish harm upon them, and that through their speech, they would deliberately introduce added stress and anxiety into their fellow students’ lives.
It is important to note that the First Amendment protects the rights of these students to express their political views, even if others would consider them offensive or harmful. UC Merced remains committed to doing everything in its power to enable our undocumented students to pursue their education. Like so many of our dedicated students, they are remarkable individuals with remarkable stories.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Leland
Chancellor
