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Dear Cal State Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV community,

As we approach the Fall Recess for students and faculty from November 25 – 29, 2024, I want to take this opportunity to share a message of gratitude and reflection with all of you.

The third weekend in November is a time when many of us gather with friends and family to express gratitude for our blessings. It's a tradition that holds deep meaning and significance for numerous families and cultures with some celebrating Thanksgiving.

Let us also acknowledge that for some members of our community, the holiday of Thanksgiving may evoke complex emotions or reflect difficult histories.

It is important for all of us to understand and honor the history of this land we call home. We would like to recognize that while we gather at Cal State University Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV located in Hayward, CA, we are on the lands that are the ancestral homes of Indigenous peoples including the Muwekma Ohlone, and other Ohlone bands, Confederated Villages of the Lisjan, as well as those unnamed indigenous tribes lost during colonization. As some of us scatter during the recess we may be gathering on the lands of other Indigenous communities.

During this time, let’s commit ourselves to learning from their histories and perspectives and reflect on the values of gratitude, unity, and respect for all cultures. Let us continue to learn from one another and uphold the principles of inclusivity and equity in everything we do.

Our campus is our home and at Cal State Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV we stand with all of our students and employees.

In this season of reflection and appreciation, I am profoundly thankful for the dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment that you bring to our college community every day. May this time be a time of warmth, connection, and appreciation for one another whether it is with family or friends. Yet, I also know that for some of us holiday gatherings can be difficult as families may reflect dynamics similar to what we have currently in society. Some of these conflicts of opinions can have enduring conflicts that are difficult to negotiate. Our counseling services has put together a guide for students gathering with family where differences in political opinion may be very difficult.

Sincerely,