Dear Students and Colleagues,

Last night, the University of Arizona Police Department and partner agencies enforced the University's campus use policy to remove an unauthorized encampment near Main Gate Square on the Tucson campus. I know that this decision may provoke strong opinions and perhaps questions, including any impact on graduation celebrations planned for today and this weekend. 

Commencement and other ceremonies will go forward as planned. 

The University successfully held 15 convocations and celebrations without any incident on Thursday, while ensuring the safety of all attendees, including 1,800 leaving a convocation at Centennial Hall just steps away from the encampment. 

• You can find more information about the demonstrations and the actions taken on the University News page. 
• If you would like more information on the celebrations this week, including safety guidelines, please visit the Commencement website. 

As I shared via email earlier this week, Commencement and the other graduation events are celebrations of our students’ hard work and academic accomplishments and affirm our shared identity as members of an educational community. We also welcome an expanded University community this weekend including family and friends who are joining us to celebrate their loved ones and classmates. We have a responsibility as hosts to try to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all. 

There are significant world challenges in this moment in time, and, as I also noted in my email earlier this week, I value our community’s engagement with these and other matters of consequence. I ask that we extend to one another the same compassion that motivates that engagement, even as we experience disagreement. However, we will remain steadfast in enforcing our campus rules, which are designed to allow for free expression and to protect the operation of our campus and those within it.

As I shared previously, while we continue to have diverse opinions and strong views on a variety of issues, we must find ways to engage safely, reflecting our shared values and respect for others.

I remain deeply appreciative of everyone who has worked so hard to plan and hold this week’s graduation events, and I trust that our graduates, their family, friends, and supporters will be able to celebrate the incredible achievements of our students. 

Sincerely, 

Robert C. Robbins, M.D. 

President
The University of Arizona

This message was originally shared in an email to students, faculty, staff and designated campus colleagues.