Dear UCI Students,

We have been paying close attention to the national coverage involving the brutal actions taken by five former Memphis, Tennessee police officers during a traffic stop on January 7, 2023, which led to the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols three days later. We know that these kinds of incidents hit closer to home for some members in our community and that bearing witness to the graphic video images of the incident can take a toll on our emotional and physical wellness. I encourage everyone to engage in self-care and seek out support as needed. In terms of support, we offer the following campus resources to our students here at UCI.

If you are in need of mental health resources, please contact the UCI Counseling Center (https://counseling.uci.edu). Other resources are available in the many offices that make up Student Life & Leadership (https://studentlife.uci.edu), Wellness, Health & Counseling (https://whcs.uci.edu/wellness-health-counseling-services), and the Office of Inclusive Excellence (https://inclusion.uci.edu).

This incident along with other acts of violence over this week only increase our need for a more just and humane world. As Martin Luther King once said,

“Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; Toughness begets a greater toughness; We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.”

Sincerely,

Rameen Talesh, Ed.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Life & Leadership
Dean of Students