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March 12, 2024

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

During a recent Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents meeting, extremely insensitive and hurtful comments were made about members of our trans and gender-diverse community. I wish to make a few points abundantly clear regarding these remarks, which, understandably, have made many on campuses throughout NSHE worried and concerned.

I am immensely proud of our students, faculty and staff who are members of the trans and gender-diverse community. We stand with you and want you all to know that your contributions to our University are immense and meaningful.

There is no place for hurtful and abhorrent comments like those that were made. Trans and gender-diverse individuals have every right to feel welcome, safe, and seen on our college campuses. We are stronger when we embrace one another for the vast potential each individual person possesses. Indeed, institutions of higher education of today must always give heart and confidence to all we teach, all we work with and all whom we reach out into the community to connect with. We are a much stronger institution when individuals who are at risk know they are supported by those around them. We realize our institutional purposes when all who are part of our campus community can be who they are meant to be.

There is currently a national political debate concerning the place and effectiveness of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access initiatives on college campuses. The comments that were made last week were a prime example of how DEIA work on college campuses must continue with robust intention. More education is in order. At its core, DEIA teaches us all to make sure that there are no voices, experiences or groups of people that should ever be left behind on our college campuses. We cannot afford to push these efforts, or these groups, to our margins. An individual’s personal identity should be something we all embrace, and work together as a community to understand, to value, and to protect. We remain committed in doing the work to make our campus the safest, welcoming and most self-actualizing place it can be.

On our campus, we have been intentional in recent years to create environments where all members of our community feel they are welcome, heard and seen. This work is ongoing and relies on all of us to ensure its success.

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President