I write today to express sadness and pain over the recent shootings of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo by members of law enforcement near Minneapolis and Chicago, as well as the mass shooting in Indianapolis that killed eight people, several of whom are members of the Sikh community.
Category Archives: Community
My own “legacy of poetry” and its enduring significance
With SJSU’s week-long Legacy of Poetry 2021 celebration kicking off next week, I recently began to reflect on my own deep affection for poetry and its relevance in today’s world. Many readers will know instinctively why I enjoy engaging on this subject. My academic studies focused on the well-known poets of the late 16th and early 17th century Renaissance era, and my love and appreciation for those poets and their works since I first was introduced to them as a college student many years ago has never diminished.
Latest updates on our efforts to address systemic racism at SJSU
Many of us are reeling and distraught, and others are also on edge as the trial involving the killing of George Floyd continues to unfold. In this context, and as I noted in a December 2020 message, we are committed to developing tangible, actionable plans on issues surrounding systemic racism. Today, I write to offer an update on the efforts and actions we have taken at SJSU to address anti-Black systemic racism on our campus.
Update on SJSU Spring 2021 Commencement Plans
Recently, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released additional guidance specific to large events, raising hopes that in-person commencement ceremonies might be a possibility for SJSU graduates. After careful review of the revised California state and Santa Clara county guidelines, we are delighted to announce that a mix of in-person and online celebratory activities will be available this May to honor our Spring Class of 2021 graduates.
Supporting Today’s National Day of Action and Healing
As our campus and local community continues to feel the impact of the growing number of hateful acts targeting our Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA), I want to share with you a national call to action to stand against racism during the March 26 Virtual National Day of Action and Healing.