Dear Student,
It is hard to believe we are only a month into the academic year, and already so much has happened! Classes and student organizations are in high gear, Homecoming has come and gone, SMFA has kicked off its 150th anniversary celebrations, Tufts is marking its 175th anniversary, and because this is New England, weāve even checked the box on a Norāeaster.
At the beginning of the year, I had planned to write to you about something I think about often: community and relationships. I still want to do that.
So much of your experience at Tufts happens through the relationships you build hereāwith friends, roommates, classmates, teammates, partners, faculty, staff, and so many others. At the end of the day, this placeāthis campusāis made real through our relationships.
Being part of a community also comes with responsibility for how we treat one another.
That means treating people with respect and care. It means paying attention to one another's boundaries, communicating clearly, and understanding that consent matters in our relationships and interactions. It means looking out for each other, speaking up when something does not feel right, and remembering that the choices we make can have a real impact on someone else.
None of us will navigate every relationship or interaction perfectly. And that is when extending graceāto others or even ourselvesācan be a way through. We can also be thoughtful about how we show up for one another and the kind of community we create together.
And when you need supportāwhether you have a question, are worried about a friend, have experienced something that concerns you, or simply are not sure where to begināthere are people here who canĀ help. You can also always start with the Dean of Students Office. You do not need to know exactly what you need before reaching out.
We are so very lucky to have you here. Please take care of yourselves, and take care of one another.
With gratitude,Ā
Dean L
Camille LizarriĢbar, JD, PhD
Dean of Students for AS&E
