A Thanksgiving message from President Ricardo Romo

November 19, 2001

Dear UTSA Friends,

As members of the university community celebrate this year's Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends, Harriett and I wish each of you a safe and joyous celebration. This Thanksgiving will be like no other we have experienced as citizens of and visitors to the United States. Since Sept. 11, our hearts have been saddened and our feelings of national security have been somewhat shaken for many of us.

It is because of those reasons that I want to take a moment to remind students, faculty, staff and friends of UTSA that our university family has much for which to be thankful. We enjoy living in a country where freedom, both personal and academic, is guaranteed by our Constitution and reinforced in our daily lives. We also live at a university where ethnic and religious diversity are celebrated, not feared.

Harriett and I wish each of you a peaceful Thanksgiving, and we ask that you -- like us -- remember those who are less fortunate in this world. Please enjoy the company of loved ones and take time to reflect on the good in our world. For me, I am keeping a copy of remarks made by Franklin D. Roosevelt 50 years ago in my wallet as a personal prayer for our current world situation:

"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression -- everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way -- everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want… and the fourth is freedom from fear."

Best wishes,

Ricardo Romo

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TODAY'S HEADLINES:

A Thanksgiving message from President Ricardo Romo
Coach Katrinka Crawford dies after fight with cancer
UTSA master of architecture program receives accreditation
Houston professor to speak Nov. 26 on African American poetry
Tri-Campus Bulletin Board -- a digest of other important news

UTSA Today Front Page

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