Dear UWLA Community:

As violence and war have broken out all over the world arising from various hostilities, I am writing to commend our UWLA community and family for its maturity and measured professionalism in managing and harnessing our individual and collective outrage, grief, and actions in response to the horrible social climate that has been generated all over the world.

As we all are noticing, institutions of higher learning-some of our nation's most prestigious-are facing challenges, although not unprecedented, that are disrupting learning and raising fears for the safety of the members of their communities. Whereas I have always defended public discourse and debate, I cannot condone violent protests that are steeped in hatred and the promotion of violence toward any other culture or religion. More importantly, Iwill always stand up for freedom , dialectic discourse, and peaceful justice because these are the tenets upon which our social, educational, and legal systems are based. Social justice is not one-sided, and human rights and freedom have many facets. Most importantly, these rights must always be exercised with prudence and reasonable restraint.

UWLA is like any other organic family. We have internal conflicts, disagreements , and even dislikes among ourselves. However, as in any other family , we must continue to demonstrate restraint, tolerance, and respect for the manner in which we handle our conflicts. Our in-person classes and online hybrid learning classes have not been disrupted, and I thank and applaud you all for this. I am sure that within our family , there has been debate and even heated disputes. I would expect no less at a university as diverse as ours. I sincerely hope our dialogue continues with respectful dignity for each other through these challenging times. Hate thrust against any individuals or groups and the advocating of violence is not a value we will countenance, support , or condone at UWLA in any manner or form, plain and simple.

I thank you-our students , faculty, administration, and alumni, who, incidentally , are some of the most diverse communities in higher education-for your emotional integrity, maturity, and adherence to the outstanding training that we promote at UWLA for civil discourse. I admire the respect you have shown toward each other and how all of you have embraced our differences. Together , we are stronger because of these differences. May you continue in your communities and the world as shining examples of leadership, strength, acceptance, and champions of diversity, never forgetting that UWLA is a family that FEELS for one another.

Sincerely,

President Robert W. Brown, Esq.