Dear Campus Community,
Over the past few days, I have spent time reflecting and listening to members of our campus and wider communities, while also trying to process – on a personal level – the collective pain caused by the recent revelations regarding César Chávez.
I am writing to share with you that the monument has now been removed from our Peace Garden. This action reflects the gravity of the information that has come to light. As a university grounded in principles of community, we have a responsibility to respond with moral clarity when faced with allegations of this nature.
I want to acknowledge that this moment is about more than any one individual person, as the issue has a layered complexity: Fundamentally, it’s about protecting one another; at the same time, it’s about forging community, promoting belonging, and thanking and dignifying the farmworkers whose hard work and sacrifice puts food on our table.
The tragedy of this situation invites us to take a broader look at how we honor history across our campus, through monuments, namings, tributes, and how best to commemorate people and events of great significance. As we remain steadfast in our commitment to the ideals of learning and open dialogue, and in close coordination with the Peace Garden committee, I will be forming a broader working group that includes both campus and community voices. This group will help us take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to honoring our shared history as we move forward, including how we review monuments, namings, and tributes.
At the heart of a university is the willingness to have difficult conversations and, above all, to seek truth. If we cannot do this work here, where can we do it? We are called to grapple with history in all its complexity: to listen to one another, integrate new information, and to adjust when that information challenges our previous understanding. This is not easy work, but it is essential to our present understanding of each other and our interconnected future.
I remain committed to learning alongside you, to listening with openness, and to adjusting our course when it is necessary. I also want to share that another campus communication will be forthcoming, providing supportive resources for our entire campus community.
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
President
