President's Message

Dear Beach Community:    Many in our community continue to be affected by the war in the Middle East.    The deadly terrorist attacks and kidnappings brutally perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli civilians beginning October 7 were unspeakably horrific. Retaliatory actions by the Israeli government have killed Palestinian civilians in great numbers and have prompted a humanitarian crisis.    The conflict has also surfaced both anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim rhetoric and threats here in the United…

Dear Beach Community, A student group here at the university recently posted messages on social media that expressed support for recent attacks against Israel. For many, those posts — and an event the group is planning for this afternoon — are deeply offensive in light of the loss of life and unspeakable violence during this conflict. We reject any glorification of war or celebration of death, and we acknowledge the pain caused by speech that does. While we work to foster an environment of…

Dear OneBeach Community, I write this in the midst of an ongoing tragedy in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank that intimately affects many in our Beach community.  The conflict engulfing the region is horrifying, and the loss of innocent lives is heart wrenching.  The historical roots of this conflict are deep. The prevailing dynamics in the region are complex. We all know that perspectives vary widely when identifying the source of the crisis and ways to move forward.   But in the face of…

Dear Beach Community: I offer you a hearty welcome to a new academic year, with special greetings to our new students, faculty, staff, and administrators arriving at The Beach for the first time. At the start of each semester, I feel such energy and optimism about what's to come. I wish you every success as 2023-24 gets underway. Of course, you are being welcomed to our beautiful campus in Southern California, and climate change is here. While more than 90% of state academic spaces are…