Jan. 12, 2021
We are still reeling from the violent and disturbing events that took place last Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the days since, we’re learning more about what occurred and what led to an attack on not just the Capitol, but on the foundations of democracy. Unfortunately, these events did not occur in a vacuum and reflect broader divisions in our society.
I was struck not only by the violence that occurred that day, but also by the manner in which law enforcement responded to the protest and the violence that ensued as a result. Based on what I and many other Americans observed, it’s easy to understand that our communities of color have experienced a unique harm in seeing that law enforcement has treated them unequally.
Congress did its work to certify the election results, and we will now transition to a new administration. Our nation faces both immediate and structural challenges — the pandemic, social inequity, economic uncertainty, and deep questions about our values and priorities — and institutions of higher education will be called upon to help solve those problems for our country and our society. The work all of you do contributes to those solutions, and your voices must inform our conversation. What we do as a campus will demonstrate our commitment to our mission and our ideals.
Among our ideals is following the rule of law, which has sustaining value for us as a democratic society and governs our decisions on campus, including those related to Professor Eastman. I know many of you feel as though his participation in the rally that preceded the attack upon the Capitol grievously harmed the campus. I agree and wouldn’t attempt to excuse or discount his actions. While hundreds of students, faculty, and staff have demanded that Chancellor DiStefano dismiss Professor Eastman, I fully support the chancellor’s decision that dismissing Professor Eastman would be contrary to our constitutional obligations.
We saw last week how disregarding the rule of law harms our country in ways that cannot be easily repaired. I’ve spent much of my career studying the First Amendment and freedom of expression and advocating for it as a fundamental value in a free society, but I struggle with how often our commitment to this constitutional value leaves us angry and dismayed when we have been hurt by someone else’s speech. I can’t easily reconcile these tensions, and I feel the same anger and hurt that many of you have shared with me.
We are still trying to overcome what was an extraordinarily challenging last year for our country as we navigated the ups and downs of COVID-19 –– the worst global public health crisis in a century –– and the social inequities it magnified. The uncertainty spurred by recent events, and those likely to emerge in the weeks ahead, will no doubt contribute to additional worry, stress and disappointment in communities across the country and on our own campus.
Within this sobering context, I encourage managers to use discretion in allowing employees greater flexibility to balance their work duties while they seek to stay informed and practice self-care this spring. Likewise, I urge employees who need to talk to someone or need additional support to take advantage of the campus resources available to all staff and faculty members.
I will join you as we advance our mission and our ideals as Colorado’s flagship public research university. You inspire me and give me hope for the future.
Sincerely,
Pat