Jeffery C. Gibeling, dean of Graduate Studies at UC Davis, issued the following letter on March 4 to students, staff and faculty in Graduate Studies:

Dear Members of the Graduate Community:

As Dean of Graduate Studies, I write to support and challenge each and every member of the graduate community at UC Davis to review and renew your commitment to our UC Davis Principles of Community.

While these issues are and should be on our minds every day, this week has been designated as a time to reaffirm and celebrate the 20th anniversary of these Principles (see Dateline story). This designation represents a timely opportunity to respond in a positive way to the recent distressing acts of hate and intolerance on our own campus, such as the defacement of the LGBTRC and swastikas marked in various locations, and other UC campuses, such as the noose and hood found at UCSD and the assault of two gay students as UCR.

Graduate students, graduate faculty and staff who work in support of graduate education have a unique responsibility to support and model the UC Davis Principles of Community. We teach, we advise and we engage within and beyond the campus through our research and outreach activities. As stated in these Principles, it is critical that we affirm the inherent dignity in all of us, affirm the right to freedom of expression, and confront and reject all manifestations of discrimination.

I invite you to join me and my colleagues in the Office of Graduate Studies as we renew our individual and collective commitment to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for each member of our university and surrounding communities.

Sincerely,

Jeffery C. Gibeling
Dean of Graduate Studies