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September 6, 2017
Dear Members of the Pace Community,
Since I arrived on campus at the beginning of August, I have received the warmest of Pace welcomes----- from the staff in the president's office, who have helped me hit the ground running; to the faculty members who have shared with me their exciting plans for the new academic year; to the students who have joined me for coffee and conversation; to the security guards in One Pace Plaza, whose friendly greetings have helped to start each morning on just the right note. Today, for the first time in my role as president of the University, I have the honor of welcoming all of you----- those, like me, who are just beginning their own Pace Path and everyone who already makes Pace such a remarkable place.
Together, we enter this new year with a sense of momentum across the University. In New York City, we are making major progress on the Master Plan that will create vibrant new teaching, learning, and social spaces. In a revitalized Pleasantville, students and faculty are enjoying the investments Pace has made in new residence halls, a modernized student center, a new environmental center, and enhanced athletic facilities. In every school and on every campus, we remain deeply committed to providing access to outstanding young people and we are continuing to refine the academic experience, so that all Pace graduates are prepared to meet the challenges of professional leadership in the 21st century.
I was drawn to this university by its enduring mission of Opportunitas and the transformative power of a Pace education. And yet, like any first-year, I still have a great deal to learn about Pace, so I'm inviting all students to participate in my new Snapchat challenge and give me their best advice on what to do and where to go both on and off campus. Share with me your recommendations for a favorite study spot or Setter sporting event, the best slice of pizza in Lower Manhattan, or the most beautiful hiking trail in Westchester. I'll pick five of the best suggestions and give them a go with the students who submitted them.
If you'd like to take part, please send your submissions to the @paceuniversity Snapchat account no later than Friday, September 15.
As we all settle into this new academic year, and embark on the intentional work of achieving our individual goals, I hope that we will also remain ever mindful of our responsibilities to one another as a diverse community of learning. Right now, millions of Americans are suffering from the impact of Hurricane Harvey, including many Pace families, while halfway across the world, the city of Mumbai is experiencing devastating flooding. At the same time, our nation continues to grapple with the terrible events in Charlottesville,
and yesterday we received word that President Donald J. Trump has ordered an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Pace University has always welcomed and supported immigrant students and we will continue to do so. We urge the President and Congress to proceed in a way that makes it possible for America's Dreamers to continue building bright futures for themselves and making important contributions to our nation----- the only home that most of these hard-working young people have ever known. Please read my full statement here.
Amid these turbulent days, let us set an example of compassion, openness, and resilience. Let us remain receptive, always, to new ideas and perspectives and embracing of people whose life experiences may be very different from our own. Let us offer the spirit of welcome to one another, not just today but every day in the year to come.
I wish you a happy, healthy, and productive 2017-- 2018.
Sincerely,
Marvin Krislov
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