Messages to Campus

Dear Western Students,

The first days of the new year have provided no respite from one of the most challenging years in living memory, as the nation deals with astounding post-holiday COVID spikes, with some areas, including the northern part of Whatcom County, seeing a tripling of infection rates in just the past week…

Dear Western Community,

No words can do justice to the profoundly disturbing political violence that unfolded yesterday in the heart of our nation’s capital.  The appalling images of extremists defacing the inner sanctum of our democracy, and of lawmakers being rushed by Capitol police to safe rooms have shocked the world.  January 6, 2021 will be remembered as one of the darkest days in…

Dear Western Community,

We are nearing the end of a year unlike any other in our history. I imagine that you are looking forward to saying goodbye to 2020, and welcoming a healthier, safer, and brighter 2021, as much as I am.

I am deeply grateful to our faculty, staff and students for…

Dear Western Community,

As we anxiously await the outcome of the 2020 election on Tuesday, I am reaching out to ask that over the next few days you take extra care of yourself and those around you, and if you haven’t already and are able to do so, please vote.

This has been a long and difficult election season for many, exacerbated by the challenges of the COVID pandemic.…

Dear Western Community,

On Monday, October 12 we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a moment that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.  I am honored to have a growing community of Indigenous people at Western, including 954 students at all Western campuses who identify in some way as Indigenous: American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and…

Dear WWU Students and Families,

We hope you are all well and safe. I am writing to provide an update as you prepare for fall quarter.

You will recall that in May, Western’s Fall Academic Planning Group recommended a hybrid model of instruction with most classes offered remotely and approximately 20% of classes offered in person.  Unfortunately, since that time infection rates have…

Dear Western Washington University Community,

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision that blocks the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  We applaud this decision, especially at a time when so many DACA recipients are performing essential work on the front lines of our nation’s fight against COVID-19.

Dear Western Community,

In the midst of this pandemic, as we all struggle with loss and fear, we have seen the disproportionate impact of the virus on communities of color and been confronted with the painful evidence of inequity which persists all around us. In the last weeks we have also seen racist violence end the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and threaten the life of Christian Cooper. The multiplication of threats…

Dear Western Community,

I want to start by acknowledging the complexities in communication during this unprecedented time.   Since none of us has definitive solutions or timelines as we navigate this unfolding crisis, I know that my messages can trigger more questions than answers.  At the same time, I expect that most of you are looking for as much information as possible and an understanding of the decision-making process…