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Remarks and Writings

Reflecting on Academic Freedom, Free Speech and Hate Speech

January 16, 2018
Dear Campus Community, I want to extend a warm welcome back after what I hope was a restful, refreshing break spent with family and friends. As I reflect on a year that was full of changes, challenges and some great successes, and look ahead to a new year, I’ve been thinking a lot about our university’s core values, enshrined in our... Read More

Tax Reform and How You Can Help

November 27, 2017
Dear Campus Community,   Like many of you, I have been closely monitoring House and Senate action on tax reform efforts in Washington. It has been a high-priority concern of the higher education community since the bill was introduced earlier this month.   UC Merced and the University of California system have joined countless public... Read More

Thankful - For You

November 20, 2017
Dear Faculty and Staff, As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and a well-earned break, I want to express how much I appreciate the truly inspirational dedication you have shown to the growth and success of this university and its students. We are a university on the rise, as evidenced by the increasing national and international recognition of... Read More

Homecoming Weekend - Thank You!

October 23, 2017
  Dear campus community, More than 2,000 people were on campus this past weekend for a truly special series of events presented under a fitting title: Homecoming. Many of our alumni returned to their academic home, prospective students visited UC Merced for the first time with their families, and members of our community toured what is... Read More

California Wildfires and How You Can Help

October 11, 2017
Dear Campus Community, The wildfires burning in Sonoma County and elsewhere are bringing unhealthy air into the Merced community, and we will continue to post air quality alerts and alert the campus community if the situation worsens.  For now, avoid being outside as much as possible and consider wearing an air mask.  We can only... Read More

Reaffirming Our Principles of Community

September 14, 2017
Dear Campus Community, UC Merced is guided by our “ Principles of Community ” and the UC Board of Regents’ “ Principles Against Intolerance ,” which express the ideals that we strive to live up to. In this time of political discord and dissension, it is important that each of us work to affirm these ideals in our... Read More

DACA and our undocumented students

September 5, 2017
Dear Campus Community, As you have likely heard, today President Donald Trump is rescinding the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that was enacted in 2012 and has protected 800,000 young adult unauthorized immigrants from deportation and allowed them to work legally while pursuing their education. This action directly impacts... Read More

Welcome to the 2017-18 Academic Year

August 28, 2017
Dear Students, Welcome to the 2017-18 academic year! It has been a busy start, with 2,200 new students joining the Bobcat family. Our student body is diverse in beliefs, values, and identities but bonded through curiosity, diligence, and a desire to make a difference during their time here and beyond. There is a special Bobcat spirit at UC... Read More

Affirming Our Campus Commitment

August 21, 2017
Dear Campus Community,   UC Merced has always been a place that prides itself on diversity and inclusion, and where people from various backgrounds and with various identities can live, work, study and learn together. This week, now that our first-year students have arrived and as a new semester begins, I want to address events on the... Read More

Concern for Our Students After Weekend Incident

July 14, 2017
Dear Campus Community,   Yesterday, approximately one hundred members of the UC Merced community and others joined in a peaceful protest motivated by the recent troubling incident that occurred at the Chandelier Hookah Lounge this past weekend. Those of us who have seen the video clip showing a portion of the incident can surely... Read More

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