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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Dear UCR Community, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The upcoming national, state, and local elections are just days away.
<span style="background:white">While this has been a contentious election season, we must remember that elections are more than a chance to voice our political preferences. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Elections are also opportunities for us to reaffirm a commitment to treating one another with respect and honoring one another’s well-being, even when we
disagree on candidates or issues.</span></strong><span style="color:black;background:white"> We must stay true to these values if our democracy is to function and our communities are to thrive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">It is important to remember that as a public institution, there are laws and policies that prohibit the university from endorsing or contributing to political
candidates or using university resources </span><span style="color:black">for campaign purposes in connection with ballot propositions.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">Resources and information related to advocacy are available at </span><a href="https://gcr.ucr.edu/"><span style="color:black">https://gcr.ucr.edu/</span></a><span style="color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white">Additionally, elections can elicit strong feelings of excitement for some and anxiety for others.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white">The outcomes may be a source of elation, disappointment or both. Be engaged, stay informed and, when the voting is over, please stay magnanimous toward others and hopeful that even though the future
is unknown, it will be a better one if we build it together with compassion and mutual respect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Students who need professional and confidential mental health support, contact UC Riverside’s Counseling and Psychological Services
</span><a href="https://counseling.ucr.edu/">(CAPS)</a> <span style="color:black">
at 951-827-5531. CAPS offers free services to all UC Riverside students. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For additional questions about student resources, contact
</span><a href="mailto:vcsa@ucr.edu">vcsa@ucr.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white">Staff and faculty can contact the </span><a href="https://hr.ucr.edu/employee-resources/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program"><span style="color:#F4002B;background:white">Faculty and Staff Assistance
Program</span></a><span style="color:#455A64;background:white"> </span><span style="color:black;background:white">at 951-781-0510 or 800-266-0510 for confidential counseling, referral, or other resources.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best Regards, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/bhaynes">Brian L. Haynes</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/tomsmith">Thomas M. Smith</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor<o:p></o:p></p>
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