Re: Tyre Nichols
To: All campus
Jan. 28, 2023
This weekend we process the senseless and brutal treatment of yet another young Black man by officers sworn to protect and serve their citizens; this senseless act coming on the heels of violent and tragic events in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay.
And we wonder: how have we arrived at a point where dehumanization of others comes so easily? On the eve of Black History Month--a month in which we intend to celebrate Black excellence and highlight the stories of pioneers and trailblazers who helped build this nation and are building our university today—it is painfully clear that the righteous struggle for true equity, particularly where the law is concerned, is real and ongoing.
While optimism may be difficult to come by at this particular moment, I would encourage all of us to look to our campus community as a bastion of hope and a place where we can work toward a more just and equitable future. UC Merced, as so many other public universities around the nation, draws together young people from differing economic and cultural backgrounds, from rural and urban settings, who share the drive and the sense of urgency to solve some of today’s most pressing challenges.
Moreover, we are a community that cares deeply about one another, as I hope you will notice in the coming days. At times like these it is so important to reach out to one another; connect with those in our community who are hurting and feeling hopeless with the growing tragedies besetting our larger society.
And as we process these events and eventually move forward, let us continue to engage in the reflection and collective conversation about how to make our campus, our country and our world less violent and more just for all.
Sincerely,
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.
Chancellor
