To the Campus Community,
I want to take a moment today to follow up on a point I made in last week’s Fall Convocation speech—that we, as a university, “shall continue to chart the course in our never-ending quest to become an exemplary anti-racist, health promoting urban public university.”
I believe it is of the utmost importance to convey this commitment to all of our students, faculty, and staff, and to the far corners of our broader communities. We must continue to make our university a place that is welcoming to all, regardless of the color of one’s skin, ethnic heritage, or sexual and gender identity.
We began work on this priority last year, and it took even greater urgency in the wake of the cold-blooded murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the dramatic rise of violence and anti-Asian hate. But our work on building a leading anti-racist, health promoting urban public university is of no less urgency this year as we continue to witness the malicious sentiments of hate and violence toward Black and Asian members of our human family.
We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at UMass Amherst in resolutely rejecting racism in all its forms and declare that racism, hatred, and intolerance stand in complete opposition to a humanist civilization and to the elemental requirements for the practice of democratic citizenship. I here and now reaffirm that scholarly inquiry must be built on foundations of respect, rigor and reflexivity. Without these fundamentals, our fragile edifice of learning and teaching is undermined, our vision is blurred, and our mission becomes an elusive mirage.
Again, let me be clear. I demand of myself as your Chancellor, and I expect of the entire Beacon family— including faculty, students, and staff — to embody an ethos and practice based on respect for the dignity of all human beings. Safety is the sine qua non for trust and an essential foundation for us to be able to reach the higher ideals of the public research university. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, bullying, and overt and covert bias stand in complete opposition to the spirit that animates UMass Boston and our lives as scholars and practitioners.
I call on you to join me in this challenging but critical work on our campus and beyond.
Students seeking support are reminded that the Counseling Center is available and 24/7 counseling support is available by calling 617.287.5690.
For employees, ComPsych Guidance Resources provides support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This service is confidential and free for all faculty, staff, and members of your household. Contact information is: 844.393.4983; TDD, 800.697.0353; or guidanceresources.com, using the web ID UMASS.
Students, faculty, and staff may also access Interfaith Campus Ministry services for additional support and guidance.
Sincerely,