Dear Cal alums, parents, and friends,
I did not see my inauguration on October 18 as a personal ceremony, but as a communal one, an inauguration of another era of excellence for our university. I am certain that together we will write a new chapter in the remarkable story of Berkeley’s never-ending quest to open and explore new horizons on behalf of the greater good.
Yet as I told the audience gathered at Zellerbach Hall, our community is in need of care and attention. While being deeply engaged with the world around us provides endless opportunities, it also opens us up to challenges born of these polarized times. The rising skepticism about science. Online assaults on the truth. The politicization of higher education. And — I say with profound concern — an increase on our campus in hateful, toxic expression, often connected to divisive issues.
Individuals have called for a repeat of the carnage that targeted Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. Others have wished physical harm upon supporters of the Palestinian cause. Posters have called for the elimination of transgender people, and harmful expressions have been directed at members of our Black and non-binary communities. Sadly, these are not isolated incidents.
To be clear, I am not addressing here the underlying conflicts, issues, or perspectives fueling these acts, but rather, as I said in a campuswide video, the impact that they have on our community and culture. Far too many people are afraid and anxious. They need our support and compassion.
Calls for violence, left unchallenged, bring us closer to actual violence — the antithesis of what we stand for. At the same time, even terrifying rhetoric can be protected by the First Amendment. So while the administration cannot dictate how to address these challenges, we must stand together and implore those using this language to consider their impact and the danger in their words. I am encouraged when I witness students, faculty, and staff uniting in their condemnation of hateful rhetoric.
I have told the campus community that as we approach the election, we have an opportunity to be changemakers, to embody a better way of being in community, and to engage in constructive — not destructive — discourse. I am certain that together we can protect all that makes Berkeley its best.
Go Bears!
Chancellor Rich Lyons
Chancellor’s Choice
Election 2024
Explore a handful of resources to help you understand the issues surrounding the election from a variety of academic perspectives.
- Read: The dynamics of a historic campaign — Peruse a collection of articles on work Berkeley researchers have done on fascism, the Supreme Court, young voters, and more.
- Watch: Political deepfakes — It’s getting harder to discern if images, videos, and audio are real or fake. Hear a breakdown of a few examples of political deepfakes, and learn tips for stopping the spread of misinformation online.
- Listen: Election law — From when mail-in ballots can be counted to the final Electoral College tally, election laws will play a major role in the outcome of this election. Three experts discuss what we can expect.
- Read: Public trust in elections — Recent polls show public trust in the integrity of U.S. elections is decreasing, largely among Republicans. But scholars say this doesn’t signal that our elections are getting less reliable.
- Reflect: Surviving election stress — Explore eight questions to check in with yourself — and perhaps boost your health, well-being, and resilience.