Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Don't Harm Students Because of Jarrar's Tweets: Fresno State President
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
April 20, 2018

Share

Editor’s Note: Tweets from author and Fresno State professor Randa Jarrar are triggering national outrage. Some people are saying they will no longer support the university. Here is Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro’s response:

I know that many of our friends are upset, and I’m upset, too. I’m upset by what I saw, and what I heard that night.

Again, that does not exemplify what we do here at Fresno State in preparing the next generation of leaders, and I think it’s very important for us to condemn that part of what was done and said. And at the same time, as we uphold our First Amendment rights that all of us enjoy, the most important thing, I believe, is for us to continue to role model leadership here on this campus, and we are working hard every single day to educate our students to be successful, to be leaders, and we’re doing that better than ever because the community has been supportive of us, and I ask them to continue that support and to trust that we’ll make the appropriate determination.

Joseph I. Castro

Fresno State President

A single set of tweets does not define the success of our university. We’re bigger and stronger and more dynamic than ever, and I ask the community to continue their support for our university and our best days are certainly ahead.

At Fresno State, we’re absolutely committed to the freedom of speech for each and every one of us. The concern that I had about those tweets was related to the timing and the fact that it lacked any compassion or respect, and what we’ve been trying to focus on here at Fresno State, is the idea of having a civic … a civil and respectful dialogue, even when we disagree, and I have a deep concern with people who are not following those kinds of principles here at Fresno State and not modeling leadership for our students.

I’m Listening to Your Concerns

Ever since I’ve been president of Fresno State, I’ve really emphasized the listening part of my job, and I’m especially listening right now to the concerns that everybody has across the board, and so I promise that I’ll continue to do that, and I promise that we will follow our appropriate policies and laws and make the best determination possible — just as we do with all big decisions at the university, and I want to welcome additional input.

A single set of tweets does not define the success of our university. We’re bigger and stronger and more dynamic than ever, and I ask the community to continue their support for our university and our best days are certainly ahead.

If our community wants to share more of their concerns, I’m happy to listen to those and to read about them. There are different ways to do that, and I think it’s important as a public university that we do that — that we offer that opportunity and that we take into consideration the different views that people have on topics of importance.

I Understand Why People Are Upset

I’d ask the community to look at the university as a whole, and, yes, I understand why many of us are so upset. I’m upset as well, but I don’t think the appropriate action is to do harm to our students. They deserve our support. They’re part of the bright future of the Valley, so I ask our community to trust that we will do the right thing and that our university will get stronger and stronger in the days and months and years to come with their support. It’s about the university and the community coming together as one.

We received 26,000 applications this year for a class of 5,000 students. Demand is higher than ever before and that’s because of the quality work of our faculty and staff.

My message to the students and families is I strongly encourage them to continue their plan to come. We received 26,000 applications this year for a class of 5,000 students. Demand is higher than ever before and that’s because of the quality work of our faculty and staff, and, again, I wouldn’t judge these tweets from one professor as determining the success of our university.

[raw]

President Castro

President Joseph I. Castro shares his thoughts on the importance of free speech, civil discourse and community support for the University’s mission in educating the next generation of Valley and state leaders.

Posted by Fresno State on Thursday, April 19, 2018

[/raw]

DON'T MISS

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82

DON'T MISS

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

DON'T MISS

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

DON'T MISS

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

DON'T MISS

CA’s Liberal Government Has a Long History of Caving to Special Interests

DON'T MISS

Corrupt Process? Bullard, Edison Parents Blast Handling of Superintendent Search

DON'T MISS

Police Had About 90 Seconds to Stop Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Fell. 6 Workers Are Feared Dead

DON'T MISS

NBC Has Cut Ties With Former RNC Head Ronna McDaniel After Employee Objections, Some on the Air

No data was found

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

11 hours ago

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

12 hours ago

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

12 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

12 hours ago

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

13 hours ago

CA’s Liberal Government Has a Long History of Caving to Special Interests

13 hours ago

Corrupt Process? Bullard, Edison Parents Blast Handling of Superintendent Search

13 hours ago

Police Had About 90 Seconds to Stop Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Fell. 6 Workers Are Feared Dead

14 hours ago

NBC Has Cut Ties With Former RNC Head Ronna McDaniel After Employee Objections, Some on the Air

15 hours ago

Here Are Some Numbers That Will Help You Get Your March Madness Fix for the Sweet 16

15 hours ago

Ukrainian Navy Says a Third of Russian Warships in the Black Sea Have Been Destroyed or Disabled

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has sunk or disabled a third of all Russian warships in the Black Sea in just over two years of war, the navy spokes...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Ukrainian Navy Says a Third of Russian Warships in the Black Sea Have Been Destroyed or Disabled

Composite image of President Trump and Devin Nunes
10 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: How Going to Work for Trump Turned Devin Nunes Into a Millionaire

11 hours ago

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82

11 hours ago

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

12 hours ago

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

12 hours ago

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

12 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

13 hours ago

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend