In light of the results of the recent national election, we as faculty and staff of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley stand by our diverse student body. We feel a moral responsibility to state publicly that we oppose any divisive language and acts of bigotry and racism that seem to be characteristic of this time.
We are feeling the fear of our students who find themselves in positions of vulnerability, due to their ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality or religious beliefs. The words of Gloria Anzaldúa (1999) ring true as we are “barely keeping the panic below the surface of the skin, daily drinking shock with our morning coffee.”
As faculty and staff, we are here to serve as a beacon of hope to our students. We are committed to maintaining our classrooms as safe spaces for all students, where dialogue is nurtured and tolerance is practiced by caring adults who value the strengths and assets of all our students. We are here to protect, develop and guide our community during this time. We value our students and recognize that they make us better because of their cultural wealth and translingualism.
Cynthia Saldivar
University College Program Coordinator,
Jonikka Charlton
Associate Vice President for Student Academic Success
Joan Reed
University College Lecturer
Michelle Alvarado
University College Lecturer
Sofia Montero
University College Lecturer
Marilyn Hagerty
University College Lecturer
Jose Saldivar
University College Lecturer
BB Gaytan
University College Lecturer
Dagoberto Ramirez
University College Lecturer
Kelly Morales
University College Lecturer
Erika Perez
University College Lecturer
