From the President
Democracy, Hope and Opportunities
Nov. 9, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
We have a president of the United States.
Until Saturday, it felt as though we were in suspended animation, even as we all tried to focus on the work of the college and our own lives. For many of us, everything took place through a prism of waiting, with the incessant background noise of baseless accusations, active disinformation and lawsuits. And yet democracy prevailed.
I want to thank you for everything you did – individually and collectively – to encourage participation in that democracy. Thank you to our students, including the interns in VIDA and the Public Policy School who worked to provide election information in a variety of ways, and those in HEFAS who registered voters. Thank you to the faculty who guide these students, and every instructor and classified professional who urged students to learn the issues, from the top of the ballot down, and to vote. Thank you to the Office of Communications, and their extensive interactions with students and all employees, promoting voter information through both De Anza Votes and CivicsWatch. Thanks to each and every one of you for voting.
I know there is much celebration among the De Anza College community. Yet clearly, there is much work to be done: in the United States, in California, in Silicon Valley. The politics of California – which I am just beginning to learn – made for complex election results. There are deep divisions, but there is hope, and there are opportunities. I know that I look forward to doing that work with all of you, at De Anza College.
With appreciation,
Lloyd