Occasional updates, comments, and reflections from President Feridun Hamdullahpur
Every Fall, I have the privilege of welcoming our community together at the annual President’s Town Hall to provide an update on the state of the University and give a brief glimpse at the future. As we all continue to grapple with uncertainty and change, coming together has never been more important.
I want to start by thanking everyone in the University of Waterloo community for what has been a strong start to this very unique Fall Term. It has certainly offered its own obstacles but also successes for our University.
Today is the start of a new academic year for thousands of students, faculty and staff who make up the University of Waterloo community. I think many of us are craving a fresh start knowing full well the coming fall term will offer new experiences and some new challenges.
We have all been pushed and stressed by the past six months. I certainly feel it and see it. At the same time, we continue learning, working and creating because we believe in pursuing new knowledge and meeting the needs of our community.
Again, this week the world is reacting to an awful act of police brutality in the United States with the shooting of Jacob Blake. Closer to home, many are still searching for answers in the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. I continue to be deeply disturbed by these tragedies and other racist acts of violence against Black people that are happening across the world every day, including here in Waterloo.
Canada is slowly reopening. The past five months have put enormous pressure on our institutions structurally and financially. We now need to figure out two things: what has changed in the short-term due to COVID-19 and what has changed forever.
In June I announced my intention to form a new task force to tackle racism at the University.
I am deeply committed to making sure that we make lasting changes to address racism as an institution. This must include anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, and other issues of racism that we see too frequently on our campuses and in our society.
Dear University of Waterloo Community,
Many of us have watched the news over the past week of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the rise in protests across the world. I know some in our University community may have participated in protests to stand in solidarity against racism, violence and oppression.
I stand with you. I stand with your frustration. I stand with your anger. I stand with your sadness. And, I stand with your call for action.
Canada is a diverse country, but still racism, oppression and intolerance happen here, too often.
I know it has been said repeatedly over the past several weeks but there is no doubt that the University of Waterloo has undergone a great deal of change in a short amount of time. We are collectively navigating uncharted territory for any post-secondary institution. Decisions are being made quickly as situations arise and as we react to an ever-evolving environment dominated by the need for public safety.
I know I am not alone in saying this, but the last month has been a trying one. COVID-19 has challenged everyone in the University of Waterloo community, and around the world, to levels that have never been encountered before. What I have also seen is a community that has pushed forward every step of the way.
The final three weeks and exam period of this Winter Term have been transformed out of necessity for greater needs of public health and safety. The health and wellness of our students, faculty, staff and broader community will always remain our number one priority. At the same time, we have a dedication to keeping the quality of our academic experience strong and moving.
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