Chancellor Gary S. May issued the following letter today (Jan. 16):

Dear Members of the UC Davis Community:

As I reflect on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and all that his life has meant to our society, I cannot help but acknowledge that we live in a time of profound national and global division. Many in our community — including me — are feeling unsettled, anxious or concerned about the impact of these events on our lives and on those around us. I want to acknowledge these feelings and reaffirm our shared commitment to caring for one another during challenging moments.

UC Davis is guided by our Principles of Community, which call on us to respect the dignity of every individual, to act with empathy and compassion, and to foster an environment where all can learn, work and live without fear or intimidation. These values are foundational to who we are — and they matter most when circumstances test our sense of stability and trust.

As a great public research university, UC Davis embraces open inquiry, rigorous debate and the free exchange of ideas. Disagreement and differing perspectives are inherent to academic life. At the same time, we share a responsibility to ensure that our engagement with one another remains thoughtful, civil and grounded in mutual respect. We can hold strong views while still listening, speaking with care and honoring the humanity of those with whom we may disagree.

Each member of our community — students, staff, faculty and alumni — has a role in shaping the climate of our campus. Small acts of kindness and consideration matter: checking in on one another, offering patience and understanding, and choosing dialogue over division. These everyday actions help sustain a community rooted in trust and care.

I also want to remind you that UC Davis offers a wide range of resources to support well-being, connection and dialogue. If you are feeling overwhelmed, or if you are concerned about someone else, I encourage you to reach out to campus mental health services, employee and student support programs, and community resources designed to help during difficult times. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and no one should feel they must navigate these challenges alone.

Our mission as a public-serving institution is not only to advance knowledge, but to model the values of empathy, integrity and respect that strengthen our society. By living our Principles of Community — especially in moments of uncertainty — we affirm our shared responsibility to one another and to the broader world we serve.

Thank you for the many ways you contribute to making UC Davis a place of care, dignity and thoughtful engagement. As Dr. King said, the arc of the moral universe is long, but bends toward justice. Together, we can continue to remember this, support one another and uphold the values that define our community.

Sincerely,

Gary S. May
Chancellor