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A call for unity; resources for students

To: UCSC Community

From: Akirah Bradley-Armstrong, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success

October 26, 2022

Over the course of the past several weeks, the Student Union Assembly (SUA) has been mired in a period of great conflict and uncertainty, which has impacted many within the campus community in profound ways. Understandably students, staff, and faculty have been troubled by what has transpired. Some of you have felt hurt and pain, some of you have been overwhelmed with stress or anxiety about what could happen, and some of you have been frustrated and scared by the divisiveness of the moment. 
 
Earlier today, four executive members of the SUA, shared an update with the undergraduate student body. In their SUA Official Recall Statement, the executive officers notified the campus community that their petition to recall Alfredo Gama Salmeron from the position of SUA president was successful. In turn, as outlined by the SUA constitution, Vice President for Internal Affairs, Jimmy Gomez, has assumed the role of interim SUA president. 
 
Whatever you are feeling about this news, I ask you to consider that your peers may share a different perspective. As we navigate the days ahead, I call for unity and continued engagement under our Principles of Community. 
 
Uncertainty like we’ve experienced recently often creates a lot of additional stress and anxiety. There are many resources that may be helpful to you at this time. To help offer clarity about this situation, we’ve created a webpage with answers to several Frequently Asked Questions about SUA and its governance. We encourage you to check it out to better understand SUA, its constitution, and its bylaws. This same webpage also offers information about resources that may be helpful to you now–or during any challenging time. Whether you are looking for mental health support, crisis support, connection with community, how to report an incident, or where to review our codes of conduct, this resource page can help guide you to what you may want and need at this time.
 
Community Conversations with CAPS. We have proactively coordinated community conversations with CAPS for tomorrow Thursday, Oct 27th at 4:15 pm in the Cervantes & Velasquez Room at the Baytree Conference Center. This is for immediate reactions and processing of all that has transpired.  If you are interested in connecting with a CAPS Therapist on Thursday afternoon, please share your contact information here. A member of the team will be in touch to confirm additional details.  NOTE: This is not a drop in session; students need to sign up in advance via the form provided.
 
Additionally, we are working with our partners at On the Margins to offer a healing space for the campus community. On the Margins offers coaching focused on healing and resiliency practices to deepen and sustain students’ personal, social, and academic well-being and goals. If you are interested in participating in a healing space with On the Margins, please share your contact information here. We will work with you and the On Margins team to schedule time and space for restoration and healing. 
 
I’m tremendously grateful to all the students who continue to lead our campus and support one another through this difficult time. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to all the staff and faculty who have supported our students amidst this uncertainty. I look forward to working with our entire campus to grow as one community committed to the well-being and success of another. 
 
In community,
 
Akirah Bradley-Armstrong, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success

This message was sent to all students, staff, and faculty.