PSU, FSU, CSU, and GEO Letter To The Chancellor

Dear Chancellor Suárez-Orozco, Provost Berger, Vice Chancellor Bowen, Vice Chancellor Kirleis, Vice Chancellor Ferrer-Muniz and Chief Lloyd,

With the start of the new Trump administration, the safety of all campus community members is paramount in our minds and as the union leadership of UMass Boston, we were shocked to see the Chancellor’s “Welcome Back, Beacons” message that was sent on January 30, 2025 that lacked any words of support or acknowledgment of the unprecedented threats we face. As the campus leadership, you have said nothing thus far to affirm our institutional values or uphold our mission statement as “anti-racist and health-promoting.” Furthermore, we were horrified to see on February 4, 2025 Boston.com reported the University had purged the website of all DEI language and the link that you provided to all faculty as required syllabus language providing diversity, immigration and undocumented support to our students is no longer valid. We recognize that there may be more to the reasoning for this, but if you continue to stay silent, then you allow speculation and misinformation to spread. You have taken to self-censorship instead of showing true courage in the face of unethical and inhumane federal government actions. This failure in leadership has stoked fear and uncertainty throughout campus.

Chancellor Keith Motley addressed the Trump administration’s first election in a broadcast to the entire campus community and stated that, “On behalf of the University of Massachusetts Boston, I assure you that our commitment to the safety and well-being of all of our students, in education and in other aspects of life, remains unwavering. We will continue to uphold the ideals for which we stand and, to the best of our ability, will seek to fulfill the promise that brought each of you to our university in search of a brighter future.”

At UMass Boston, we have a history of protecting our community. As the federal government continues to create chaos, uncertainty, anxiety and despair, we are asking you to take leadership in communicating and upholding university policies that protect the rights and safety of all students, staff, librarians, and faculty, including individuals of any national origin, religion, legal status, gender identity, sexual identity, and political beliefs.

We will be holding a campus community town hall on Tuesday, 2/18 and invite you to join us from 12:30-1:00pm to address our concerns. We will send a follow up invitation with additional information.