Dear campus community:
Yesterday, I sent out the message reminding members of our campus community that resources are available to help students, staff and faculty cope with recent events on campus. Throughout the weekend, counselors continue to be available for all campus community members in need of extra support. We have group and individual appointments available, as well as group outreach meetings, on the second floor of the Student Activities and Athletics Center (SAAC). Please visit here for the full schedule.
If you have left the Merced area, but want information on responding to a campus tragedy, understanding grief or hints for self-care, online resources are available here.
As many of you know, last night began the first campus collective opportunity to heal after this week’s tragic events. I want to thank all of you, especially the leadership of ASUCM, Campus Special Events, Office of Student Life, and Public Safety, for a powerfully symbolic ceremony. The T-shirts that showed up, which were my gift to vigil participants, were still warm from the printing, thanks to the efforts of Brian Gresham from Student Affairs and Adam Saxon from Image Masters, who printed shirts throughout the night.
I know that many of you who were unable to attend last night’s vigil have inquired about #BOBCATSTRONG T-shirts and other opportunities to gather in the days ahead. Those efforts are currently being planned, and we will update you regularly.
In my comments last night, I acknowledged that our crossing of the bridge was the first step in our campus’s process of healing. The process will be complicated if new information emerges in the days and weeks ahead about the motives behind this tragedy. I ask only for your patience and to allow law enforcement, including the FBI, to do their work.
The work ahead of us will not be easy. However, I am confident that it will happen.
Bobcat Strong!
Dorothy Leland, Chancellor
