Editor’s note: The following message was sent today via email from President Taylor Eighmy to all faculty, staff and students:
In the last few months, and especially over the last few weeks, our nation has experienced much unrest. These deeply troubling threats to our democratic traditions challenge us to hold tight to our collective capacity for respectful discourse and the pursuit of peace.
Such notions are especially significant today as we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader known for his messages of tolerance and understanding. Dr. King’s heart understood the deep divides that exist in our country, yet his eyes never lost sight of the greater goals of equality and respect for human dignity.
Dr. King expressed many thoughts that are particularly relevant to us as a university community and our mission to prepare students to make the world a better place. This quote from Dr. King’s 1956 “Birth of a New Age” address is especially resonant for me:
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
As we embark on our new semester tomorrow, I encourage you to find strength in the lessons Dr. King taught us. As a learning community, we are responsible for educating the leaders of tomorrow through the lens of our core values. Our work revolves around preparing students to make our world a safer, more equitable place where everyone is empowered to pursue their dreams.
This thought fills me with great optimism, as I hope it does for you.
I have participated in San Antonio’s MLK Day march every year since I arrived at UTSA, and am missing the opportunity to march with our university and local community on this important day. Nonetheless, I am still very grateful to be in fellowship with all of you today as we remember Dr. King’s legacy and look forward to a fruitful semester ahead.
