Editor's Note: UTSA President Taylor Eighmy sent this email to UTSA students, faculty and staff today.
(Dec. 10, 2018) -- Dear Roadrunners,
As you wrap up your classes and work in preparation for a well-deserved winter break, I wanted to provide some updates regarding the various incidents that occurred on campus this semester.
The November 12 classroom incident and the subsequent concerns raised by students, faculty and staff illuminated the work we need to do to create a culture of inclusivity on campus. Our new Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Myron Anderson is already putting a framework into place to formalize the President’s Initiative for Diversity and Inclusion. In addition, we are hiring a nationally-recognized consultant to bring an external, independent perspective and assist us with developing a path forward to address the systemic challenges of implicit bias, racism and inequity. More information will be forthcoming in January.
In the meantime, we created a website on Diversity and Inclusion at UTSA to serve as a clearinghouse for resources, initiatives and updates. Of note, the site includes a clear, step-by-step guide for any member of our campus community who feels they have experienced some form of discrimination. This site will evolve over time as the initiative progresses.
The investigation launched as a result of the flyers posted regarding alleged sexual assaults/misconduct is well underway. Ice Miller, the law firm conducting this work, asks that anyone with relevant information contact them at UTSA_reports@icemiller.com or (317) 221-2810. Reports may be made anonymously. Ice Miller is not providing any legal advice to any of the involved parties. I will be sure to update you on the results of this investigation when we return for the spring semester.
If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to review our Safe Campus website which serves as a centralized hub for the university’s services and resources on preventing sexual violence and harassment. A step-by-step guide has been added to offer clear guidance to any students, faculty or staff who experience or witness sexual misconduct. Our Interim Dean of Students LT Robinson is coordinating efforts to develop, through the campuswide Violence Prevention Advisory Committee, student-centric strategies for survivor support, bystander intervention and sexual consent education.
Although the past few weeks have been challenging, these incidents have led to healthy dialogue and recognition of the long-term approaches needed to bring about cultural change. The events we experienced this semester are symptoms of larger, more systemic issues playing out across our country. They defy easy fixes, and they are too broad and too important to be the “job” of any one individual or campus office.
During these times of deep political, cultural and economic divides, I am especially grateful to work in a learning community committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment for all. We will need to do this work together, and the collaborative spirit I see in all of you gives me endless optimism regarding the journey.
Wishing you much joy and peace this holiday season,
Taylor Eighmy
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Aproduction of the Gudalupe Cultural Arts Center, Rio Bravo showcases the vibrant music and dance traditions of the Texas-Mexico border region. Featuring the Guadalupe Dance Company and Mariachi Azteca de América, the performances will be filmed live both nights, courtesy of UTSA's College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
UTSA Downtown CampusCheer on our Roadrunners as they face Houston Christian University. Featuring a special halftime show with Ballet Folklórico Sol de San Antonio and Mariachi Los Paisanos performing with the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band.
AlamodomePubMed is an essential database for anyone conducting biomedical or health-related research. This workshop will teach attendees how to navigate this free resource effectively and locate peer-reviewed articles using basic & advanced search features, MeSH subject headings, and Boolean operators.
Virtual EventIn this workshop, we will review the basic concept of metadata and how it can influence digital projects, particularly those that include images like exhibits and mapping. Through the lens of preserving cultural heritage, you will learn about some of the more popular types of metadata schema and participate in a hands-on Dublin Core cataloging exercise.
CEDISH Co-Lab 3.02.38, 3rd Floor, John Peace LibraryMariachi Los Paisanos & Mariachi Juviniles will perform. Free and open to the public.
UTSA Recital HallAre you looking for a job/internship? Connect with over 60+ employers to learn more about their job/internship opportunities. All students and classifications are welcome to attend.
HEB BallroomsJoin UTSA Libraries and Museums to learn more about the publishing discounts available for UTSA researchers. Current agreements include Elsevier, Cambridge University Press, Springer Open, and more. Please bring your questions and feedback for the library as we continue to pursue partnerships with publishers to reduce costs for our researchers.
Virtual EventThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.