Dear Beacons,
On behalf of all of us at UMass Boston, I would like again to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community of Sayed Arif Faisal, a student who was tragically killed on January 4, 2023 by the Cambridge police. Sayed was a vibrant young man -- an artist, a dedicated computer engineering student with passionate interests in Asian American studies, a supportive friend, and a beloved son.
In our grief for his heartbreaking loss, we find yet another moment to reflect on our privileges and ways in which we can contribute to positive social change.
We support and commend members of our community who raise their voices in support of Sayed’s family and in protest of the senseless killing. Our university community believes in and supports active conversation and the pursuit of truth as a noble expression of citizenship and civic responsibility for the well-being of others. We clamor for a transparent investigation and, as always, the pursuit of justice.
We invite the campus community to come together on Friday, March 24 for a Teach-In discussion concluding with an evening memorial service in celebration of Sayed’s life, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will provide our community time for reflections, prayer, and dinner, served after sundown in observance of Ramadan.
Finally, I am pleased to share that I have seeded an endowed scholarship to honor the life of our UMass Boston student Sayed Arif Faisal and others who have died tragically. The honorary scholarship will provide tuition support to talented students with financial need pursuing studies in public service. More details about the scholarship and how individuals can contribute is forthcoming.
Sincerely,
Marcelo Suárez-Orozco
Chancellor