Dear College of Arts & Letters Community, I write to you following the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd last May. While we anticipated that these proceedings and verdicts would prove emotionally draining for anyone following them, the disturbing evidence and wrenching testimony have had a heavy psychological toll on many of…
We stand in solidarity with our Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) and Asian communities in the wake of the racist and misogynistic killings in Atlanta this week. This most recent violence lies at the intersection of race and gender.
Dear College of Arts & Letters Staff and Faculty, As we head into the halfway point of the semester, I write to provide an update regarding the COVID Relief Fund and disbursement efforts to our staff and faculty in the College. First, however, I want to remind you that next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 2 and 3, are Break Days…
We in the College of Arts & Letters have long understood the power of words to strengthen or diminish democracy. Over the past 24 hours, we have witnessed the power of words to incite violent insurrection at the United States Capitol, distort the truth, and undermine a peaceful transition of power. But we have also seen the power of words to organize and mobilize voters in Georgia, to resist cynical strategies of voter suppression, and to persevere in certifying the will of the people.
Dear College of Arts & Letters Staff and Faculty, As we head into the holiday break and the start of a new calendar year, I am writing to provide a quick update regarding the spring semester 2021. This message supplements the communication that was sent yesterday to the MSU community from President Stanley about the delay in the start of the…
On this longest night of a challenging year, the fire we light together calls back the sun. As the winter solstice turns us toward the brighter days of a still inchoate spring, may you find time to be with those you love, to rest and reflect, and to restore the energy we will need to support our students and one another in the year to come.
Dear College of Arts & Letters Students, Staff, and Faculty, As we navigate a very challenging period of uncertainty, I write to provide an update from the College regarding the Spring 2021 semester. This message supplements the communications that were sent last week to the MSU community from President Stanley about the Spring 2021 semester and from Provost Woodruff regarding…
Dear College of Arts & Letters Staff and Faculty, I want to provide an update on the progress of the Budget Reduction Task Force (BRTF) as part of our 2020 Contingency Plan. As mentioned during the College Meeting held on August 21, recommendations from the three subcommittees were due on October 8. Those have been submitted and are now available on…
As we navigate this challenging period of remote learning, it is important to find ways to remain connected. One of the most enduring ways we are connected as a society is through the vital practice of voting that sustains our democracy. For generations, Americans have fought, struggled, and died to establish and preserve our right to vote. Their sacrifices make voting our sacred responsibility.
Dear MSU Class of 2024, Welcome to Michigan State University and to the College of Arts & Letters! You are embarking on an education that will forever shape the course of your life. At the very moment you begin this journey of personal transformation in your life, we are living through an intense period of transformation in our society. The pandemic has caused us to move this semester online to protect the health and safety of our community.