Supporting human rights and condemning the death of Mahsa Amini and others killed in resulting protests

Dear Campus Community,

As you may know, in recent weeks Iran has experienced widespread unrest, with protests erupting throughout the country following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. We are deeply troubled and saddened by Ms. Amini’s death and the deaths of the many Iranians killed when they took to the streets in protest.

Last week, UCSC’s Iranian Student Union held a vigil for Ms. Amini and all those who have lost their lives while protesting the brutal oppression of women in Iran. We, too, recognize the bravery of Iranians raising their voices in dissent, endangering themselves by speaking out against the government. We also laud the ISU’s leadership in convening our campus vigil and commend all who supported the gathering, in particular our Resource Centers.

UC Santa Cruz is committed to upholding fundamental human rights. We strive to cultivate a climate of equity, equality and justice, and steadfastly condemn violence and discrimination of any form.

Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted, especially our Iranian and Iranian-American community members and others with connections to the region. We know that many students and employees are facing challenges communicating with family and friends in the country. If you are feeling the impact of this event in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to campus services for support. Counseling and Psychological Services provides assistance for students. Our Employee Assistance Program offers counseling and support to employees. If you need to report discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics, please contact the Office of Equity and Equal Protection.

It is in situations like this that we have the opportunity to demonstrate our Principles of Community by affirming our values, and by showing support, care and compassion to Iranian and Iranian-American members of our community.

Sincerely,

Cindy and Lori

Cynthia Larive
Chancellor

Lori Kletzer
Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor