Tragedies in Uvalde, Buffalo, Laguna Woods, 5-31-22

Dear students, faculty and staff,

It is difficult to find the right words as we process last week’s unspeakable tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which ended the lives of 19 children and two teachers. 

This, on the heels of heinous acts of violence and hatred in Buffalo, New York, and Laguna Woods, California, that took the lives of 11 and forever altered countless others. 

In the first five months of 2022 alone, the Gun Violence Archive reports 230 mass shootings have devastated people, families and communities across the United States. These horrific events again shine a light on the urgent need to address the gun violence epidemic that continues to rage in our country. 

While the challenges presented by ongoing gun violence are numerous and complex, they cannot be disentangled from our mission as an academic medical campus. As we work together to find solutions, let us do so united by a shared commitment to advancing health, hope and healing. 

In the coming weeks, we will co-host a webinar with CU Boulder bringing faculty members from our campuses together to discuss some of the ways that our university can make an impact on addressing the gun violence epidemic. Details on the webinar will be coming soon, and we encourage you to attend.

This is a deeply difficult time for many of us. Please remember that you are not alone. There are resources available for those who need support or may be struggling in the aftermath of these incidents.

As we mourn the victims and seek pathways toward meaningful change, let us take care of ourselves and look out for one another. 

Sincerely,

Don Elliman
Chancellor