Today, as we remember and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is an opportunity for us to think as a community about where Dr. King said we should go, how we get there, and our actions along the way.

As the semester comes to a close, I write to update you on Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) implementation.

Universities play a key role in modern society, but the extent of that role is called into question when the world faces catastrophic events.

Today marks the beginning of Free Speech Week across our country. Here on the Forty Acres, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate and reflect upon our constitutional freedom to speak, and to appreciate the key role this freedom plays in our University’s educational and research missions.

The horrors of the last week will be forever etched in our minds and hearts. Across countless conversations, I have heard and felt the pain the ongoing war is causing for so many throughout our campus community.

Our University leadership is continuing to assess and understand the full impact of the legislation that passed and will likely be signed by Gov. Abbott during the next two weeks.