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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Dear Campus Community,</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">This past week I have been away from campus on vacation to be with family. We were together for a wedding. Our gathering was jubilant, a time to celebrate love, one of the feelings that defines
humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In contrast, the first reports of Hamas attacking music festival attendees in Israel were horrifying. The details have only worsened as days pass and images of the inexcusable terrorist destruction
surface. We are now facing a humanitarian crisis for millions of innocent civilians.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">As one spokesperson for a diverse campus, I generally don’t voice an opinion where matters of foreign conflicts are concerned. My primary role is to ensure we are achieving UC Riverside’s mission
and progressing as an institution in ways that support our region and state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Though I sometimes issue statements in response to events that impact the psyche of our campus, there is a much longer list of events for which we intentionally avoid comment – as I don’t believe
it’s my place to publicly opine on every global tragedy or crisis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">But as the crisis in Israel and Gaza continues, I am compelled to affirm that UC Riverside stands against the killing of innocents. We are on the side of reason, understanding, justice, and
hope. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">And while there is a place for debates on our campus on complex and sensitive topics such as Middle East politics, any conduct that violates our
<a href="https://chancellor.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/2019-01/community.pdf">Principles of Community</a> and perpetuates violence or discrimination will not be tolerated.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">As stated in the
<a href="https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2023/10/09/resources-ucr-amid-violence-israel-and-palestine">
message</a> from Provost Watkins earlier this week, please utilize the resources available to students and employees if you need help processing recent events.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">I also encourage department leaders in Student Affairs, International Affairs, colleges and schools, and Human Resources to reach out to students and employees who may be directly affected by
such matters. In the coming days, I hope all on campus will approach one another with compassion and an appreciation for our shared humanity.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">I also would like to share a
<a href="https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/university-california-statement-mideast-violence">
statement</a> from University of California President Michael Drake and Chair of the Board of Regents Richard Leib.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="102" height="76" style="width:1.0625in;height:.7916in" id="_x0000_i1034" src="cid:image001.png@01D9FCF1.737BC770" alt="A black and white photo of a black and white photo of a black and white photo of a black and white photo of a black and white photo of a black and white photo of a black and
Description automatically generated"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Chancellor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="155" height="46" style="width:1.6145in;height:.4791in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.png@01D9FCF1.737BC770" alt="cid:image003.png@01D89DAF.8FA25DD0"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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