As fall quarter comes to a close, we hope everyone in the UC Santa Cruz community is preparing for an enjoyable and restorative holiday break.
This is a season of giving, of togetherness, and it is also a season of reflection. Over the past several weeks, the university has received concerning reports of incidents of antisemitism and anti-Black racism. UC Santa Cruz condemns these and all acts of bigotry, intolerance, or hate. These types of actions are antithetical to our Principles of Community and our values.
UC Santa Cruz is extremely proud of its history shaping creative, innovative, and brilliant thinkers. We are a unique institution, and each individual member of our community contributes to its distinctive character. An act of hate against any one of us tears at the fabric of what makes this university special and harms our efforts to build and participate in an inclusive and safe environment.
The University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, shared ancestry, and other protected characteristics. If you experience or witness an incident of hate, harassment, or discrimination, we strongly encourage you to report it as soon as possible. These incidents are contrary to our values and will not be tolerated.
UC Santa Cruz is a place where ideas and community thrive. Our university continues to prioritize ensuring that our campus climate is open, welcoming, and respectful to all. Maintaining a positive climate is the work of all of us. In Equity & Equal Protection and the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we take every complaint of hate and bias seriously and work to resolve it expeditiously. While we cannot always publicly share the results of investigations, we decry antisemitism, anti-Black racism, and all forms of hate, bias, and bigotry.
As the quarter comes to a close, we urge you to remember that we need each other to build a community of equity, inclusivity, and respect. We look forward to welcoming in the next year with renewed commitment to maintaining the rare and remarkable character that has sustained UC Santa Cruz for 60 years.
Sincerely,
Samara Winbush
Equity and Equal Opportunity Director, Office of Equity & Equal Protection
Anju Reejhsinghani
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Chief Diversity Officer
